UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - This game, James Franklin said, is nothing less than Penn State's Super Bowl.

Just like the one against Akron last Saturday was. And the one against Georgia State Sept. 16 will be.The one the Nittany Lions, who moved up to No. 4 in the Associated Press poll Tuesday, will play against Pitt at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Beaver Stadium just happens to be next on their schedule.Sure, it's an epic rivalry, but that is not why it is so meaningful to Franklin's team."I understand the significance of this game, and I understand the importance of this game," he said Tuesday. "But I'm also a huge believer that this is the most important game on our schedule, because it's the one this week."Last week, the Akron game was the most important game in the universe for us. This week, the Pitt game is the most important game in the universe, the only thing that exists for us."I don't want people to take what I'm saying the wrong way. This is the Super Bowl for us, because it's the game that we play Saturday. Last week, our Super Bowl was Akron."When I say these things, people act like I'm trying to say that the Pitt game is not a big game. It's a huge game. It is the most important game we have on our schedule. Last week, [Akron] was the most important game we had on our schedule."That's just how we're going to approach it. Always have, always will. It's not going to change. … It is a very, very important game for us, because it's the one we play Saturday."Fair enough, although Penn State-Akron and Penn State-Georgia State don't feature the kind of turbo-charged emotions the Pitt-Penn State rivalry does. It is sufficiently bitter that it can sour relationships between friends. Family members, even.Perhaps surprisingly, that isn't the case with the Apkes of Mt. Lebanon.Scott Apke was a linebacker at Pitt in the 1980s, and his wife, Susan, competed in track and field for the Panthers.Their loyalties, however, shifted to Penn State when their son, Troy, committed to Penn State in 2014.Troy Apke said Tuesday that his father "is a Penn State fan" who has been unwavering in his support.Apke and quarterback Trace McSorley met with reporters Tuesday, as did Franklin. Wednesday, cornerback Grant Haley, linebacker Jason Cabinda and offensive lineman Connor McGovern are scheduled to participate in conference calls, while defensive end Ryan Buckholz will do interviews after practice.Those availabilities are in stark contrast to the approach taken this week by Pitt, for which only coach Pat Narduzzi will speak publicly.Franklin defended Narduzzi's decision to put his players off-limits to the media - "He has the ability to run his organization however he sees fit" - but said he prefers to stick to Penn State's routine.Still, Franklin acknowledged that, for many people on both sides of the rivalry, this isn't just another week."Obviously, it's an exciting game for the state," he said. "It should be exciting. Our guys are looking forward to it."No surprise there. After all, it's this week's Super Bowl.