James Franklin struggles against top teams despite media's faith in Penn State
- The media has picked Penn State as the favorite to win the Big Ten in 2025, receiving 11 first-place votes.
- Head coach James Franklin holds a 4-20 record against AP Top 10 teams, raising questions about the team's ability to perform in crucial games.
- Despite the optimism, past trends suggest skepticism about whether Penn State can capitalize on its off-season gains in the upcoming season.
In recent months, the Penn State Nittany Lions have been favored by the media to win the Big Ten Conference in 2025, having received 11 first-place votes compared to their closest rival, Ohio State. The team concluded the previous season with a 13-3 record, signaling a positive trend; however, scrutiny arises with head coach James Franklin's historical performance against top-ranked teams. His record stands at only 4-20 against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 10, which raises concerns among analysts regarding his capability to lead the team to significant victories in crucial matches. Additionally, quarterback Drew Allar represents both hope and uncertainty for fans and commentators. While his overall statistics appear compelling, a deeper analysis reveals struggles in high-pressure games, as evidenced by a 0-3 record against formidable opponents, including Ohio State, Oregon, and Notre Dame. Allar's completion rate dropped below 54% against these teams, showing a trend that parallels his coach's difficulties. As the 2025 season approaches, there is palpable energy within the Penn State program, highlighted by safety Zakee Wheatley’s comments about the team's preparation and mindset ahead of their season opener against Nevada on August 30. Despite the optimism fostered within the team, the broader narrative remains focused on the challenge of breaking through the barriers created by past failures in big games. Many fans remain skeptic of the prevalent hype surrounding Penn State's prospects this season given their history. The competitive landscape of college football continues to evolve, especially within the Big Ten Conference, which has recently been home to the last two national champions. This ongoing transformation signifies that Penn State's path to winning the conference and making a deep playoff run will require not only talent and strategies but also a marked improvement in performance against their toughest opponents. Only time will tell if Penn State can harness the confidence expressed by the media and translate it into actual success on the field by overcoming the historical shortcomings that have hampered the program under Franklin's leadership.