Penn State enters the 2025 season with championship aspirations, returning star quarterback Drew Allar, and a loaded roster that reached the College Football Playoff semifinal.
However, questions linger about whether head coach James Franklin can finally deliver in the biggest moments after years of struggles against elite competition.
QB Drew Allar’s Championship Window Could Close Under Franklin’s Leadership
The ESPN panel discussion highlighted the potential and the concerns surrounding Penn State’s 2025 campaign. ESPN analyst Heather Dinich expressed confidence in the Nittany Lions’ talent while raising doubts about Franklin’s ability to maximize it.
“Hell yeah, if James Franklin doesn’t screw it up,” Dinich said when asked about Penn State’s title chances. “He’s 4-18 against Oregon, Ohio State, and Michigan, okay?”
Dinich emphasized the impressive roster construction, noting that, “If you don’t have Penn State number one based on what they have coming back, you’re not paying attention to college football close enough, because Drew Allar should be a first-round NFL draft pick.”
The analyst praised Penn State’s talent acquisition. “They’ve got the best tandem of running backs. They’ve got Jim Knowles, defensive coordinator from Ohio State. What else do you need? They can beat the Buckeyes.”
However, Paul Finebaum offered a contrasting perspective on Penn State’s championship preparation, focusing on their non-conference scheduling strategy.
“They have one of the most ridiculous non-conference schedules I have ever seen,” Finebaum stated.
“Nevada, that’s the opener they play while Ohio State plays Texas. FIU, yeah, I know what you think about that, and then they really go big time by bringing in Villanova. Those are their three non-conference schools. Completely embarrassing for a major college to do that, but we’re talking about Penn State, of course.”
Franklin’s record against top competition is still a big issue. His team has defeated Ohio State only once in 11 games during his tenure. His record is just 3-17 against AP top-ten teams, and he has lost 15 of his last 16 matchups against top-five teams.
James Franklin at Penn State:
❌ 1-7 vs. Top 10 Teams At Home
❌ 6-10 vs. Ranked Teams at Home
❌ 1-9 vs. Top 5 Teams
❌ 1-10 vs. Ohio State pic.twitter.com/Xsm7tNgq89— College Football Report (@CFBRep) November 2, 2024
The 2025 Nittany Lions team has a top-rated core ready to compete. Quarterback Drew Allar, who was thought to be going to the NFL, announced his decision to stay in State College, Pennsylvania.
Allar was very impressive, completing 66.5% of his passes for 3,327 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2024. His development is quite promising, and many think he could be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Penn State’s backfield will feature returning stars Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, who became the first duo in Penn State history to each rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. Singleton finished the 2024 season with 1,099 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Allen added 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns.
#PennState QB Drew Allar (6-5, 238)
Big pocket passer. Velocity to fit passes into tight windows and shows touch on deep throws. Accuracy made a major leap in 2024. pic.twitter.com/1VshgOcc5R
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) May 19, 2025
Significant improvement on defense comes courtesy of new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who arrived at Penn State following a national championship with Ohio State in 2024.
Knowles’ Ohio State defense finished ranked first in the nation in 2024. His Ohio State unit was first in total defense (254.6 yards per game) and scoring defense (12.9 ppg).
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Penn State’s 2025 non-conference schedule features Nevada (August 30), FIU (September 6), and Villanova (September 13). They will also have difficulty in their Big Ten schedule with a home game against Oregon on September 27 but then must travel to Ohio State on November 1.
Franklin has enjoyed sustained success at Penn State, utilizing seven New Year’s Six appearances and a Big Ten title, but consistently losing to competition above his teams’ level is part of his overall record of 125-57.
The 2025 season is a vital season for Franklin. The biggest question remains whether Franklin can finally deliver against competition above him for any national title aspirations Penn State may have.
