James Franklin, Penn State Butt Up Against Ceiling in Heartbreaking Oregon Loss
With another crushing defeat at the hands of the No. 6 Oregon Ducks, it’s fair to wonder how far the Nittany Lions can really go under the direction of James Franklin.
Despite success in the AP rankings, win percentage, and even conference standings, this Franklin-led Penn State team can’t get over the hump. They crumble in big moments.
One number tells the story more than any other; 4-21. That’s Franklin’s record against AP Top 10 opponents. Franklin is now 1-15 is his record against Top 5 opponents.
Even in the College Football Playoff last year, Penn State beat two G5 teams in SMU and Boise State before succumbing to a P4 opponent. In a semifinal loss to Notre Dame, that also ended on a Drew Allar interception.
At the beginning of this season, Penn State looked like a heavy favorite to compete for the national championship.
Many of the stars that brought Penn State deep into the playoffs were returning and it was looking promising. While it may be too early to say that that’s off the table, this loss at home against Oregon showed much of the same old.
We are all tired of hearing the “Franklin can’t win big games” talk, but we are even more tired of Franklin actually not winning big games.
I’m a big believer in the philosophy that a good coach that can’t quite get over the hump is worse than a bad coach and James Franklin certainly falls into the first category.
MORE Penn State Football News from NittanyCentral:
A note to our readers; If you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may receive a commission
- James Franklin, Penn State Butt Up Against Ceiling in Heartbreaking Oregon Loss - September 28, 2025
- 3 Reasons Penn State Football Will Win The National Championship in 2025 - February 1, 2025
- The Moment Penn State Coach Knew Eagles RB Saquon Barkley is Special - January 24, 2025