Penn State Football had just dropped another heartbreaker to Ohio State.
The Nittany Lions had multiple opportunities to secure a win against their Big Ten rivals, but critical mistakes at the worst possible times sealed their fate.
After the game, star defensive end Abdul Carter made a bold prediction: “We’ll see them again.”
Carter envisioned a rematch in the national championship game. Little did anyone know, mental miscues would end up defining Penn State’s season—and their ultimate destiny.
Fast forward to the postseason.
The teams competing in and ultimately winning the national championship—Ohio State and Notre Dame—were far from perfect.
Ohio State lost to an unranked Michigan team in a game where they dominated on paper.
They made uncharacteristic mistakes against Oregon and committed costly turnovers in the title game. Notre Dame stumbled against an unranked Northern Illinois team, turning the ball over multiple times. Even when the Fighting Irish edged out Penn State in the semifinal, mistakes were plentiful on both sides.
Here’s the truth: Being the best doesn’t require perfection.
It requires the ability to overcome adversity, execute when it matters most, and capitalize on the opportunities presented.
Notre Dame’s semifinal victory over Penn State was a three-point game. The Nittany Lions missed a wide-open touchdown early, and while both teams made their share of mistakes, Penn State failed to capitalize in key moments. Too many errors piled up.
The argument that Penn State lacked the talent to reach the title game doesn’t hold water.
Notre Dame, after all, lost to a team ranked outside the top 70. Across college football this season, unranked teams routinely upset top-ranked squads. Why? They made plays when it mattered most and avoided compounding their mistakes.
Mistakes happen in college football—it’s inevitable.
The difference is in how teams respond.
Ohio State, for instance, is the blueprint for building a championship-caliber roster. But Notre Dame didn’t rely on flash or a massive budget to succeed. They played with grit, discipline, and opportunism, leading the nation in turnover recovery rate. That mental toughness propelled them to the national championship game.
For Penn State, mental discipline—or the lack thereof—was the recurring issue throughout the season. Ill-timed penalties and mistakes consistently put the Nittany Lions in tough situations. In contrast, Notre Dame proved ready for the big moments.
Ultimately, Penn State’s inability to stay composed under pressure is why Carter’s bold prediction of a title-game rematch with Ohio State didn’t materialize. Notre Dame played mentally disciplined football when it mattered most.
Head coach James Franklin and his staff still have work to do in preparing this team to rise to championship moments. Perfection isn’t the standard in college football, but playing like a champion when the stakes are highest is.