For nearly a decade, James Franklin has transformed Penn State into one of college football’s most consistently dominant programs. With elite recruiting, a powerful running game led by Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, and a rising star at quarterback in Drew Allar, the Nittany Lions appear poised for greatness in 2025.
Yet, despite all their momentum, one obstacle continues to stand in Franklin’s way: winning the big game.
Joel Klatt Says James Franklin’s Penn State Must Get Over the Hump in Big-Time Matchups
Penn State has proven time and time again that it can take care of business against lesser opponents. “Penn State has majored in and done an incredible job beating all the teams that they’re supposed to beat,” said Joel Klatt on “The Joel Klatt Show.” Franklin’s teams consistently finish near the top of the Big Ten standings and have landed in the top 12 of the final College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings in seven of the last nine seasons.
But the problem remains what Klatt calls the “match-up game.” As he defines it: “A match-up game is when you’ve got a similar team across from you or a team that’s better than you.” These are the high-stakes contests, against the likes of Michigan, Ohio State, or now Oregon, that have continued to elude Penn State. “They’ve got to get over the hump,” Klatt emphasized.
The 2025 season could be the tipping point. “They should get back there,” Klatt said, referring to the College Football Playoff, “with all those returning guys, Drew Allar, the backs, Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen, [and] denied Dennis-Sutton.” Add in veteran leadership on the offensive line and a defense stacked with NFL-level talent, and the Nittany Lions might have their best roster yet under Franklin.
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Penn State’s regular-season slate also offers the right opportunities. “They’re going to host Oregon. They’re going to go to Ohio State,” Klatt pointed out. Beating either of those teams would silence critics. But even Klatt remains cautiously skeptical: “I’m not totally bought in until they can prove that they can do that.”
James Franklin’s Legacy on the Line
Franklin is already one of the most successful coaches in the country. With over 100 wins at Penn State, a Big Ten title, and multiple New Year’s Six victories, his résumé is stacked. He joins coaching elites like Ryan Day, Kirby Smart, and Dabo Swinney with at least five CFP/New Year’s Six bowl wins during the Playoff era.
But, as Klatt put it bluntly: “For people to really feel like James Franklin had a really successful year, exceeded expectations, they would have to play for a national championship, whether they win that game or not.” Until then, the narrative that Franklin can’t win the big one lingers.
In 2025, Penn State will have everything it needs: talent, coaching, and opportunity. Now, it just has to prove it can finish the job when it matters most.
