As Nittany Lions Head Toward Southern Heat, 103 Games Under James Franklin Have Determined the Perfect Temperature

As Penn State and Auburn take the field on Saturday afternoon temperatures will still be rising, reaching the mid to high 80s when it’s all said and done. It will be a sweltering heat coupled with the potential for a southern humidity not quite like anything else the Nittany Lions have played in over the past decade. Penn State’s trips south have almost entirely come in the more palatable heat of the winter — Florida, Texas and Arizona in December and January a far different animals than the fading gasps of an Alabama summer.

“Evaporation of sweat is the body’s primary cooling mechanism,” Penn State meteorologist Jon Nese said. “When it’s humid outside, your perspiration simply doesn’t evaporate as easily, so your body cools less efficiently. That’s why humidity makes a difference. The good news is that the humidity for the game won’t be as high as it could be this time of year in Alabama, so although it will certainly be quite warm during the game (87-88 at kickoff, staying in the 80s during the game), the humidity won’t be that big of a factor.”

Of course with quite a few Nittany Lions calling southern states home prior to making the move it’s not as though Penn State will show up in Alabama wearing jeans and flannel, totally unprepared for the heat. It’s also not as though State College is located in the arctic, Happy Valley has its own days uncomfortable heat that occasionally finds its way into football season.

To the perpetually curious mind a trip south does make one wonder the answers to the strangest pieces of trivia. What is the hottest game Penn State has played in under James Franklin? How often do the Nittany Lions take on the heat? Is there the perfect temperature for Penn State football? What was the temperature when Penn State played Alabama on the road? (88 degrees at kick, if you must know.)

Fortunately — or unfortunately for how this reporter spent his Thursday afternoon — every box score comes with an official temperature reading. Of course most games see the temperature go down as the day turns to night, but at the outset of the proceedings someone stands there and takes an account of the temperature (albeit no mention of the additional heat elements like hot reflective turf.) So all one needs to do is simply log all 103 games Penn State has played under James Franklin and note the kickoff temperature. This is not busy work at all.

These are the results.

In total just 30 of 103 games under James Franklin have taken place in 70+ degree weather. The good news for those looking for an inside edge on Saturday, Penn State is 22-8 in those games. That said the Nittany Lions are just 2-4 in games above 80 degrees. The wins came in 2017 against Iowa, when it was 91 at kick, and against Akron in 2014. The loss were against Arkansas and Iowa last season, along with Temple in 2015 and Pitt in 2016.

As for when things get colder, Penn State is 15-1 when the kickoff temperature is 60-69 degrees but 19-17 when it dips below 50. The Nittany Lions loss to Michigan State in 2021 underneath a blanket of snow was the coldest kickoff temperature of the Franklin era with East Lansing clocking in a 28 degrees at kick.

The full temperature breakdown:

• 80+ degrees Penn State is 2-4
• 70-79 degrees Penn State is 20-4
• 60-69 degrees Penn State is 15-1
• 50-59 degrees Penn State is 13-11
• 40-49 degrees Penn State is 11-10
• 30-39 degrees Penn State is 8-3
• 20-29 degrees Penn State is 0-1

This all obviously is a bit more of an exercise in curiosity than it is anything earth-shattering. Penn State generally plays less competitive teams early in the year and better teams as the season goes along. The weather going from warm to cold and the fact the Nittany Lions lost to Ohio State has a lot more to do with Ohio State than the weather. Penn State didn’t lose to Temple because of the heat it lost because it gave up 10 sacks etc etc. Nevertheless Penn State should look into getting the Buckeyes on a night when it’s in the 60s. Or indoors where Penn State is 2-0.

As for getting Auburn in the 80s on Saturday? Time will tell if any of this really matters.