Joel Klatt evaluates how much pressure James Franklin is under in 2025: 'It's time'

James Franklin has had a wildly successful run with Penn State since taking over the team prior to the 2014 season. Still, a national title has eluded the Nittany Lions, and Joel Klatt is thinking it’s time for the program to take themselves to a new level this coming season.

While Penn State made it to the Semifinals of the College Football Playoff via wins over SMU and Boise State, they still haven’t been able to overcome teams that are more on their level, like Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan and Oregon. That’s what Klatt is looking for out of Franklin’s team in 2025.

“For James Franklin, it’s time. It’s time. Everybody around that program knows it. He knows it. His coordinators know it. Even the new one, Jim Knowles, the defensive coordinator coming over from Ohio State, he knows it,” Klatt stated, via The Joel Klatt Show.

“This is a program that has built itself on such solid footing over the last few years — making it to the national semifinals a year ago, playing for a Big Ten title a year ago. And yet, here’s the problem — Penn State under James Franklin still doesn’t have that win. At least in the last four or five seasons, against a team that maybe they are similar to or matched up with, or even an underdog too. I would call it a matchup game.

“When talent is equated, what has generally happened, is that Penn State has fallen short. They have not won those games against Ohio State or Michigan in previous seasons or Oregon last year.

“Now, I don’t want to scoff at the fact that Penn State has done something that is incredibly difficult to do, which is they do not lose to teams that they should be. So, they’re incredibly consistent. Credit to James Franklin. But it’s time, it’s time.”

While Klatt relented that he’s expected Penn State to get to the Playoff after looking at their schedule, there’s two games he wants to see Franklin rise above and get some wins for the Nittany Lions. One is their first Big Ten game of the season, a rematch from last season’s conference championship game with Oregon on Sept. 27.

The other? A trip to Ohio Stadium on Nov. 1 to face the Buckeyes. If James Franklin’s team can’t win at least one of those games, Joel Klatt is wondering if his seat won’t get a little warm. He’s been tremendous for the Nittany Lions, but it’s time for him to get them over the hump in 2025.