James Franklin reveals what he’s most excited for in 2025 after waiting 12 years at Penn State
The Penn State Nittany Lions are looking to replicate the Ohio State Buckeyes’ path to a national championship. Bringing back as many veteran players as possible isn’t a groundbreaking concept, but Penn State’s NIL development and the program’s culture made it possible.
As Penn State head coach James Franklin looks to change some of the public perception of him as a good but flawed coach that struggles to win big games, he knows the talent available to him in 2025 is special. Even after losing defensive veterans like Abdul Carter, Kevin Winston Jr., Kobe King, and Jaylen Reed, Franklin is excited about what’s possible this fall.
Franklin joined Andy Staples on the On3 show and described why 2025 offers the first chance for the entire program is more aligned than ever.
“I’m in a situation now where where, for really the first time here at Penn State, we have the alignment that I’ve been pounding the table for for 12 years. From the Board to our present…to our Athletic Director…who played in the Big Ten and understands what it takes…and then the head football coach. I’ve been here 12 years, which is unusual, but I’ve had three different ADs and three different Presidents. When you talk about alignment, we have that in a way that we’ve never had that before.”
Penn State is expected to be among the top contenders for the 2025 College Football Playoff. Ohio State is rebuilding its roster and coaching staff, and Oregon will have a new quarterback in place. Michigan ended 2024 well, but it was a rough season otherwise.
The Nittany Lions should be alongside the Buckeyes, Texas Longhorns, Ducks, and Georgia as top-ranked teams entering 2025 when official preseason polls drop.
Franklin has won 101 of 143 games at Penn State and has reached 10 wins in each of his last three seasons. He’s failed to hit double digit wins in only three times since 2016 started.
