​Special thanks to Andrew Burd and Vince Fadale of The Nittany Blues for joining us this week to discuss Penn State’s roster on the podcast. View Link. When James Franklin was dismissed from Penn State last fall, he had been the ninth-longest-tenured head coach in FBS, having led the Nittany Lions since January 2014. Under Franklin, Penn State established itself as one of the most consistent programs in college football. From 2016 to 2024, the team finished in the final AP top 15 in six of nine seasons, with only three exceptions: a No. 17 ranking, the COVID-19 year, and the unusually strong 2021 campaign. This steady presence near the top of the rankings enabled Penn State to compete in five NY6 bowls, posting a 3-2 record, and to participate in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, where the Nittany Lions won two games to reach the semifinals before ultimately falling to Notre Dame.
Despite this stability, Franklin’s teams failed to break through into the top five consistently. Their records against Top 5 programs were notably one-sided: 1-15 with an average margin of defeat around 13 points, a disparity largely driven by games against Ohio State and Michigan; 3-7 against Michigan with an average margin of loss near eight points; and 1-11 against Ohio State, with the typical gap around 10 points. By contrast, the team dominated everyone else, going 101-27 against non-Ohio State/Michigan opponents. This predictable floor and ceiling—defeating all but the elite programs while struggling against them—fueled a persistent sense of frustration among the fanbase and, evidently, within the athletic department as well. That strain surfaced most acutely this past season, which many hoped would be the turning point for a breakthrough.
After the Nittany Lions fell to Northwestern last October, Franklin was let go. The loss marked the third defeat in four games to start the season and the second consecutive loss as a 20-point favorite against an unranked opponent. It’s beyond the scope of this piece to fully dissect the factors behind Penn State’s 2025 downturn or the politics surrounding Franklin’s departure. Our focus remains on the program’s current state, the staff inheriting the reins, and any lingering issues that could affect progress. In short, Penn State remains institutionally strong, with solid personnel and resources, albeit punctuated by a few notable strengths and vulnerabilities that this article has highlighted. The recent underperformance appears to have stemmed from management missteps by the preceding staff, though we do not anticipate lasting damage.
To summarize the ongoing concerns: after studying Franklin’s teams over multiple years, ATQ noticed enduring challenges in Penn State’s wide receiver pipeline, quarterback competition, and the balance between the defense’s front and back ends. Addressing these areas will be crucial as the program transitions to its new leadership and aims to sustain its competitive trajectory in the coming seasons.