Franklin has been hijacking the pre-Thanksgiving presser for several years by playfully asking members of the media their Turkey-Day preferences.

Since the Lions are 10-1, he was in quite the mood, and there were laughs throughout the session.

It started with Frankin’s admission if the fake punt that went a long way toward clinching the win over Minnesota on Saturday, didn’t work, “You wouldn’t be having fun with me talking about the fried turkey or the roasted turkey. You would be roasting James Franklin.”

The play was the right call, he said, “because it worked.”

But he was also confident since the team “had repped it (in practice) a thousand times” and was waiting for the right moment.

He again praised the blocking of Dom Rucci, who made the call, DaKaari Nelson and Tyler Eldson, whose efforts helped spring Luke Reynolds for 32 yards.

“You work all year for something, and the guys took advantage,” he said.

As for Thanksgiving plans, Franklin said the team will convene for dinner on Wednesday and hold a practice Thursday morning.

“It allows the guys to have more time on Thanksgiving to either go to my house, their position coaches house, for some of the local guys, possibly go home,” he said.

For Thanksgiving-week home games, he said, “a lot of families come in early and they come to practice and do Thanksgiving and then stay for the game.”

Franklin’s favorite holiday dish, by the way, is sweet potato pie.

Scouting Maryland

The Terps are limping to town with a 1-7 Big Ten record, their lone win coming over USC, 29-28.

They do, however, feature the conference’s top passing attack that averages 290 yards per game.

Quarterback Billy Edwards and receiver Tai Felton, who leads the Big Ten with 92 catches, are the focal points. Franklin called Felton “a big part of our defensive gameplan.”

Franklin spent eight years on Maryland’s coaching staff, once as its head coach-in-waiting before taking the Vanderbilt job in 2011. He worked alongside current head coach Mike Locksley for several years, and Maryland offensive coordinator Josh Gattis coached with Franklin at Vandy and Penn State before leaving the Lions’ staff in 2018.

“I have a lot of familiarity with these people,” Franklin said along with the “DMV” being a prime recruiting area.

Singular focus

Penn State is in a unique position in that it could still possibly play in the Big Ten final next Saturday against Oregon.

For that to happen, Michigan needs to defeat Ohio State (10-1) on Saturday in Columbus. The Wolverines (6-5) are 20-point underdogs.

“I’m completely focused,” on Maryland, Franklin said, but he acknowledged the possibility and added, “We want a chance to compete as many times as we can this year, and if that includes a conference championship game, we would be very excited about that opportunity.”

Ohio State-Michigan kicks at noon so the Lions will know the result by the time they start play vs. Maryland.

Injury report

Franklin confirmed two players injured against Maryland, offensive tackle Anthony Donkoh and defensive tackle Alonzo Ford, have “long-term injuries,” which likely means they’re out for the season.

Nolan Rucci came in for Donkoh and “played well,” Franklin said.

Behind Rucci, Franklin said J.B. Nelson and true freshman Cooper Cousins could see more action this week.

Franklin said tailback Nick Singleton “is a lot closer to 100 percent and full speed” than he was midway through the season and “we need that.”

NOTABLE

• Saturday is senior day and players expected to depart after this season will be introduced prior to the game.