Penn State's James Franklin Under Fire Heading into 2025 Season
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Over the last three seasons, Penn State head coach James Franklin has won 10 or more games. Furthermore, during his tenure with the Nittany Lions, he has a record of 101-42, but Franklin has a major criticism, which is his inability to win big games.
Since arriving in 2014, the 53-year-old has a 1-15 record against AP Top 5 teams at Penn State, with the lone win coming against then No. 2 Ohio State in 2016.
STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 23: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts to a play against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half at Beaver Stadium on September 23, 2023...
STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 23: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts to a play against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half at Beaver Stadium on September 23, 2023 in State College, Pennsylvania. MoreNow heading into his 12th year as the head coach, is there pressure on Franklin to deliver or risk losing his job? CBS Sports college football analyst Damien Harris believes so.
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"At what point do we get tired of just coming up short?" Harris said on CBS Sports HQ. "I mean, every single year, it's the same story with James Franklin. You beat the teams that you're supposed to, but once you face Ohio State, once you get to the playoffs and you play Notre Dame, once you finally have that test to show that James Franklin has gotten the Nittany Lions over the hump, and every time they come up short...
"So again, with all of these things, you've got the experience at quarterback; you've got preseason All-Americans on the offensive line, on the defensive line. You've got a two-headed monster in the backfield. You are supposed to have one of the best defenses in the country. And again, James Franklin, if you cannot get this done this year, then what more is it going to take?"
Read more: Insider Reveals Major Red Flag for Clemson QB Cade Klubnik
There's a lot of pressure on Penn State to get to the national title this season as the Nittany Lions came in at No. 2 in The Associated Press Top 25.
Furthermore, Franklin and his team will have Drew Allar back at quarterback for what many see as a light schedule, leading up to a late-September visit from Oregon and a Nov. 1 showdown with Ohio State."
Penn State opened the College Football Playoff with a win over Boise State, but then fell to Notre Dame. Another season of falling short could be the final straw for Franklin.
For more on college football, head to Newsweek Sports.
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