If you are following James Franklin’s Penn State at all, chances are you know the chatter around here in Happy Valley is nothing short of white-hot. Finally, after years of having ‘almost there’ seasons, most recently due to a CFP semi-final loss to Notre Dame last season, the Nittany Lions enter 2025 with as much swagger as any program in the country. Franklin, now in his twelfth season, has managed to keep the core of his roster intact, holding onto stars like Drew Allar, Nicholas Singleton, and Kaytron Allen for one more shot at a national title.
Of course, Franklin’s never been shy about showing his emotions; just ask the fan he got into it with during the spring game. But for all the sideline theatrics, the man’s built a machine. The only knock? Winning the truly big games. He’s 1-10 against Ohio State, and the ghosts of “Big Game James” still haunt the program. For 2025, James Franklin is not only counting on Jim Knowles’ to lead the defense, but also on a more experienced quarterback.
Drew Allar follows up a 3,327-yard, 24-touchdown season with this championship-or-bust run, including the steady hand that leads it. But he can’t do it by himself, and that’s where the newcomers fit into the picture. Enter Kyron Hudson and Trebor Pena. Hudson, a transfer with big-play credentials, and Pena, a tricky slot receiver out of Syracuse, are the new additions Franklin believes will finally provide Allar with the looks he needs to set scores ablaze. The chemistry is developing, and the analysts are beside themselves discussing it.
“Drew Allar was working out in California. Hudson came out every day and worked with him,” says Steve Jones in the recent episode of Locked in Nittany Lions.” Zach Seyko and Steve Jones are almost beside themselves with the new chemistry building between Drew Allar and his sparkly new wideouts, Kyron Hudson and Trebor Pena. “Well, Drew told me flat out here, [Devonte] Ross and Hudson, he loves those kids, and Hudson is one of those guys. There may be tight coverage, but the ball’s going to be his.”
“He (Trebor Pena) and Ross are two guys that also can play the slot, which really helps, and Penn State has never been a team that’s been married to a guy that’s just strictly in the slot.” The analysts are nearly salivating for the new-look wide receiver room. Last season, Penn State’s passing game was, honest to goodness, heavily dependent on their tight end Tyler Warren. Now, with Warren gone, Franklin got busy in the portal.
The Nittany Lions added Kyron Hudson from USC and Trebor Pena from Syracuse, along with Devonte Ross from Troy. Suddenly, Drew Allar’s got more choices than a Cheesecake Factory menu.
Hudson, your prototypical big-play receiver, can make contested catches and provide Allar with that steady outside threat he’s lacked. Pena, the slippery slot receiver, possesses the type of speed that makes defensive backs wonder if they chose the right career. And Ross? He’s the wild card with speedy hands and return game potential. And the best part? Each brings a “specialty skill,” so defenses can’t just double one guy and call it a day.
Pick your poison, folks. So what does this mean for the Nittany Lions’ CFP hopes? Well, if this trio clicks, it changes everything. Suddenly, the offense is balanced. Defenses can’t stack the box against Singleton and Allen, because Allar can torch ’em over the top or underneath.
Why do Penn State’s big game struggles keep haunting them?
If you’ve been anywhere close to college football Twitter, James Franklin just received a “reality check.” You know Penn State fans are high on ESPN’s preseason No. 1 rating, while everybody else is side-eyeing Happy Valley. Penn State’s offseason was more scorching than a July tailgate. Franklin loaded up the roster with portal gems, retained Drew Allar and the two-headed running back behemoth (Singleton and Allen), and even swiped Jim Knowles from Ohio State to head up the defense. This team, on paper, appears to have been constructed in a lab to make a national title push. But the moment that No. 1 ranking fell, the world of college football began clutching its pearls, and rightfully so.
RJ Young from Fox Sports didn’t waste a second before raining on the parade. “My issue with this is that to win the national championship, you have to beat the top five teams. Sounds like, you know, a step that would happen anyway, given what people think about Penn State. But James Franklin is just 1–15 against AP Top 25 opponents. And more importantly, has lost 12 straight to top-five ranked opponents. I don’t know how you let that one go. I don’t see how you can tell me Penn State is good enough to beat Ohio State, Notre Dame, Texas, Oregon, when they haven’t done that, particularly when it matters.”
He essentially told him, “Good roster, bro, but let’s see receipts.” And the receipts? They’re not pretty. Franklin is 1–15 versus top-5 opponents. One victory. Since 2016. That’s not merely in a bad position; that’s a meme waiting to happen. Versus ranked opponents, he’s 12–26. Against Ohio State and Michigan, the Big Ten overlords, Franklin stands at 4–16. Ow. So is Franklin’s Penn State No. 1 stuff? Sure, if you overlook that they haven’t defeated a blueblood in almost a decade. Until Franklin shows he can win the big one, all this talk is just hype.
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