James Franklin’s Master Plan: Can Penn State Overcome Spring Setbacks and Chase a National Title?
For Penn State, the echoes of last season’s heartbreak still linger. James Franklin’s Nittany Lions stormed their way to the Big Ten Championship, finishing with an impressive 11-1 regular-season record. Yet, when it mattered most, they fell short. A crushing 27-24 defeat to Marcus Freeman’s Notre Dame squad in the Orange Bowl left them just shy of a national championship bid. Now, as the program sets its sights on 2025, one glaring issue remains—Penn State’s struggling wide receiver corps.
Despite losing key pass-catchers to the transfer portal, one college football insider remains surprisingly confident in the team’s trajectory. Meanwhile, a legendary Nittany Lion has weighed in on Franklin’s future, adding fuel to the growing belief that this team is on the verge of something special.
Can James Franklin Find the Final Piece to Penn State’s Title Puzzle?
If there was an uneasy silence in the Penn State locker room last season, it was surely coming from the wide receiver unit. The Orange Bowl served as a harsh wake-up call when Penn State’s receivers failed to record a single catch in the playoff loss. It was a stunning reality check—without serious reinforcements, the Nittany Lions’ championship dreams could slip away once again.
To make matters worse, Penn State recently missed out on one of its biggest recruiting targets, four-star wide receiver Connor Salmin, who opted for Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers instead. Given these setbacks, it seemed obvious that Franklin and his staff would be scrambling to add more firepower through the transfer portal. However, analyst J.D. PicKell was caught off guard by the bold stance taken by Blue White Illustrated’s Sean Fitz.
“If we go over to Blue White Illustrated and check in with our guy Sean Fitz, he’s saying, ‘Y’all, we don’t need to go to the portal for a receiver post-spring.’”
At first, PicKell was stunned. How could Penn State, after its well-documented struggles at wide receiver, afford to stand pat? But then the pieces started to fall into place. The Nittany Lions had already landed two critical transfer portal acquisitions—former USC wideout Kyron Hudson and Troy’s playmaking receiver, Devonte Ross.
Hudson, in particular, is a name to watch. He made a name for himself with a clutch performance in USC’s 27-20 victory over LSU, snagging two crucial catches, including a game-changing 24-yard grab that helped seal the win. PicKell sees him as a potential difference-maker for Penn State, stating:
“Seeing him last year at USC, I think he’s maybe one of the more lowkey impactful additions for Penn State. But if that’s the reality, y’all—Penn State is a national title contender because that’s really the one missing infinity stone for James Franklin.”
With the WR position seemingly addressed, the focus shifts to the bigger picture: Can Franklin finally push Penn State over the hump and into the College Football Playoff?
Is Franklin on the Verge of His Biggest Season Yet?
While some remain skeptical, others believe Franklin is ushering in a new golden era for Penn State. Among them is former Penn State standout Adam Breneman, who now serves as an analyst.
“You look at what Coach Franklin has done at Penn State… The coaching job he has done in the last decade of college football is one of the best we’ve seen,” Breneman said.
Of course, Franklin’s tenure hasn’t been without its missteps. In 2024, critical losses to Ohio State and Notre Dame derailed Penn State’s national title bid. Yet, through it all, the program has remained a consistent powerhouse under his leadership.
Athletic director Patrick Kraft doubled down on his belief in Franklin’s ability to lead Penn State to new heights.
“…Yes, we want to win every single game—that’s the expectation for every program, but to see what he has done and that consistency is what’s remarkable to me.”
But consistency alone won’t be enough. If Franklin truly wants to cement his legacy, he needs to deliver the one thing that has eluded him—a national championship. With the 2025 season opener against Nevada on August 30, all eyes will be on Happy Valley to see if this is finally the year Penn State breaks through.
Could Franklin be the one to follow in the legendary footsteps of Joe Paterno? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain—Penn State’s championship window is wide open, and the Nittany Lions are ready to make their move.
