Heading into his 12th year at the helm, James Franklin leads a Penn State squad packed with returning talent and heightened expectations after what many consider his best season yet. Despite the success, skepticism lingers.
Quarterback Drew Allar remains under scrutiny due to a concerning 0-3 record in crucial moments, raising questions about the program’s ability to contend for a national championship.
James Franklin’s Lions Are Stacked, But Drew Allar’s Struggles in Key Games Loom Large
James Franklin’s Penn State program returns to the national spotlight in 2025 with a roster of experience and talent. Key figures like quarterback Drew Allar, running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, and a reinforced receiver room provide a foundation for championship ambitions.
Franklin, entering his 12th season with the Nittany Lions, has compiled a 101-42 record, earning consistent recognition as one of the nation’s top coaches. Yet despite reaching the College Football Playoff and winning two games last season, questions around Allar’s ability to deliver in critical moments have become impossible to ignore.
During Big Ten Media Days, CBS Sports analysts Danny Kanell and Bryant McFadden underlined that while Penn State might be the most complete team in the conference, its quarterback remains the biggest question mark.
“Drew Aller has the most experience. He’s been playing at a high level for quite some time,” McFadden noted. “Over the last two years… he has 23 wins. So, he’s been a winner.” However, McFadden quickly emphasized the major concern. “The issue for Penn State… is capitalizing on opportunities against prime time matchups.”
In 2024, Penn State lost all three of its games against top-five opponents. They fell 20-13 to Ohio State at home, 45-37 to Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game, and 27-24 to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl.
In those games, Allar completed 53.6 percent of his passes with three touchdowns and four interceptions.
“That’s not winning football,” McFadden said bluntly.
Allar’s 2024 season showed notable progress. He posted a passer efficiency rating of 153.5 and 8.4 yards per attempt, ranking eighth among 58 power-conference quarterbacks with at least 240 attempts.
But in 10 games against opponents that finished the season in the AP Top 25, his efficiency rating dropped to just 114.4 — 80th among power-conference quarterbacks over the past two seasons. These numbers underscore what Kanell describes as Allar’s biggest hurdle — making plays when the game isn’t scripted.
“The difference to me in being good and great is when you’re off-script,” Kanell said.
He pointed to Allar’s performance against USC, in which he led multiple fourth-down conversions and seemed more comfortable improvising.
“I did like the fact that he was a little bit more freewheeling,” Kanell added, referencing his mobility and pocket awareness. Still, he believes Allar must take more chances. “I would like to see him take more risks and take more shots down the field.”
The pieces are there, with a more stable offensive staff and an upgraded receiver group. However, 2025 hinges on Allar’s ability to rise in big games.
