Anonymous Big Ten coach believes James Franklin's entire career could be judged by 2025 season

Penn State finally broke through and made its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance in 2024, a feat that appeared to quiet some of James Franklin‘s biggest critics. And with much of the Nittany Lions’ CFP national semifinalist squad returning in 2025, including star quarterback Drew Allar, Penn State is an early national championship contender.

And while that’s clearly a very high bar to cross, especially for a program that hasn’t won a championship since the late 1980s, it’s one that Franklin’s Big Ten peers believe may define his career in State College.

“This is the season James Franklin’s entire coaching career could be judged by,” an anonymous Big Ten coach told Athlon Sports. “If they can’t change their big-game problems with this group, it’s not happening.”

Franklin’s critics have long focused on his inability to beat the Big Ten’s best — including losing to defending champion Oregon in the conference title game last season as well as eventual national champ Ohio State in the regular season. In fact, Franklin has lost eight straight against the Buckeyes and three straight to Michigan.

Of course, just based on what it accomplished in 2024, this could be the year Penn State and Franklin put it all together.

“This is the best roster in Franklin’s time there, and they’re probably a favorite to win the league entering the season,” another anonymous Big Ten coach told Athlon.

Anonymous Big Ten coach on Penn State offense: ‘They’re national title contenders because of the backfield’

Much of that preseason hype centers around the Nittany Lions’ wealth of returning experience, including a loaded backfield that will feature Allar and explosive running back tandem Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton, who combined for 2,207 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground last season.

“They’re national title contenders because of the backfield. It would be hard to find a better overall group than Allar and the two backs,” a third anonymous Big Ten coach told Athlon.

Allar is by far the biggest star, especially after opting to run it back instead of entering the 2025 NFL Draft despite several NFL teams reportedly pressuring him to turn pro after throwing for 3,327 yards and 24 touchdowns on 66.5-percent passing in 2024.

There’s also plenty of hope around the other side of the ball after Franklin poached former Buckeyes defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to replace Tom Allen as the team’s defensive leader.

“[Jim] Knowles is a smart addition; he’s going to make some of those guys standout players,” a fourth anonymous Big Ten coach told Athlon. “Watch out for the defensive end [Dani Dennis-Sutton] in his schemes. I think they’re going to be really creative in how they use him.”

Whether or not Franklin and Penn State ultimately put it all together and end the 2025 season holding the College Football Playoff national champion trophy is yet to be seen. But it’s clear that possibility will hang over Franklin’s head all season, and his critics will be there to rub it in his face if he doesn’t.