Many figured Penn State would get better and not worse in Year 3 under James Franklin. Four games into the 2016 season and that has yet to be the case.

The Nittany Lions (2-2, 0-1) are coming off a 39-point blowout loss at Michigan where they showed very little fight, falling behind early with a 28-0 halftime deficit. Combine that with a Week 2 loss to Pittsburgh and Franklin now boasts a 16-14 (6-11) record with the program since leaving Vanderbilt in 2013.

But despite the poor start, Penn State athletic director Sandy Barbour has backed Franklin, stating that the 44-year-old coach’s job is in no danger and added that she does not expect that to change by the end of the season.

Penn State AD: James Franklin is not on a hot seathttps://t.co/Kz2boPCtI8 pic.twitter.com/eUENAbipA6 — Matt Brown (@MattSBN) September 29, 2016

Under Franklin, Penn State has posted back-to-back 7-6 records with two straight bowl appearances, but his six conference wins have come against Rutgers (twice), Indiana (twice), Maryland and Illinois.

Penn State will host Minnesota Saturday afternoon in what could be a crucial turning point for the Nittany Lions’ season.