Franklin clearly has some block against elite foes, and his roster has all sorts of questions to iron out in 2025

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar gets a hug from head coach James Franklin following their 27-24 loss to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9, 2025. Joe Hermitt | [email protected] Joe Hermitt | [email protected]

Enough, Penn State coach James Franklin says. Franklin — who raised some eyebrows last month when he said that former Alabama coach Nick Saban should become commissioner of college football, a job that doesn't technically exist and an idea that Saban didn't seem to like very much — was at it again Wednesday,

James Franklin seemed destined to break the skid. His skid, to be more specific: 12 consecutive losses to top-five opponents, a miserable eight-year drought. But the 11th-year Penn State coach was on the way to snapping that streak.

James Franklin coached the Penn State Nittany Lions to a loss in a big game. Franklin cleared one hurdle this year when Penn State finally made the College Football Playoff semifinal after defeating SMU in the first round and Boise State in the second round.

James Franklin is one of the most recognized coaches in college football, and his hard work has paid off for him in many departments -- including his bank account. After getting into the coaching game in the mid-'90s,