The November Curse. The Big Game Jinx. The Identity Crisis. Call it what you want—Penn State football in the James Franklin era is barreling toward a moment of reckoning that no one, not even the $85 million man himself, can outrun.
The Curtain Rises on a Season of Reckoning
In his 12th year as commander of the Nittany Lion warship, James Franklin stands on the edge of destiny with a loaded roster, a loyal fanbase, and an $85 million contract burning in the background. And yet, while the 2024 campaign ended with a program-tying 13 wins, playoff success, and returning superstars like Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, the headlines remain haunted by one suffocating question:
Can Franklin finally win the one that matters?
He’s not just coaching to compete anymore—he’s coaching to vindicate a legacy that’s been shadowboxed by frustration, late-season meltdowns, and big-stage collapses.
On the Triple Option podcast, Franklin didn’t mince words about his ambition:
“I want these players to experience this… the ones who came back, who sacrificed everything—I want them to be part of something unforgettable.”
The words were passionate. The dream is real. But so are the ghosts that keep resurfacing.
The Big Game Curse: Franklin’s Unsolvable Puzzle
Enter Josh Pate—the sharp-tongued analyst who doesn’t deal in fluff—and he delivered a body blow that echoed across Happy Valley.
“You had two shots last year—Ohio State and Oregon—and you blew both.”
Pate’s take wasn’t just critical; it was clinical. In 2024, Penn State had everything. A playoff berth. An electric offense. A stout defense. But when it came time to tango with the titans—Ohio State, Oregon, Notre Dame—the Lions blinked. Again.
Let’s break it down:
- Ohio State in Beaver Stadium? A gut-wrenching loss.
- Oregon in the Big Ten Title? Blitzed early. Outgunned late.
- Notre Dame in the playoff? A back-breaking field goal at the buzzer.
Close. Exciting. Brutal. And completely off-target.
Pate’s damning verdict: “You’re good, James. But good isn’t why they paid you $85 million.”
⛔ The November Curse: A Legacy Haunted by Collapse
For all of Franklin’s recruiting wizardry and player development prowess, there’s one monster he hasn’t slain—the November Curse.
Year after year, the season starts with hope, builds with momentum, and then buckles under the pressure of late-season showdowns. For Penn State fans, November doesn’t bring Thanksgiving—it brings heartbreak.
From 2017 to 2024, Franklin’s teams have consistently lost the very games that separate elite from elite-in-theory. The result? A national narrative stuck in place:
- Can beat the Boises, the Indianas, and the SMUs.
- Struggles against the Ohio States, the Michigans, the Oregon Ducks, and Notre Dames.
Is it preparation? Play-calling? Mental fortitude? Fans have theories, but what they want is change. Urgency. Answers.
High Stakes, High Pressure, High Noon in Happy Valley
The 2025 season isn’t just another chapter—it’s the final act of a Shakespearean saga.
The cast is set:
- Drew Allar, the cannon-armed QB, returns for redemption.
- Singleton and Allen, the thunder-and-lightning duo, shocked everyone by staying.
- Jim Knowles, hired to tighten up a defense that gave up fireworks in big moments, is the X-factor on the sidelines.
This roster doesn’t just hope to compete—it’s built to dominate. And yet the underlying tension is palpable. You can sense it in every media availability. Every practice. Every fan forum:
If not now… when?
The $85M Ultimatum: Great Isn’t Enough Anymore
For all his wins (101 and counting), for all his charisma, and for all the culture Franklin has built in Happy Valley, the honeymoon is over. The bar has risen, and it’s set at playoff wins and national titles—not moral victories.
Pate put it bluntly:
“He doesn’t have to retire if he fails. But if they’re not competing for a national championship, then it’s a failure. Period.”
That’s the paradox Franklin faces: he’s one of the most successful coaches in the country, and yet his career at Penn State is increasingly viewed through the lens of what hasn’t been done—not what has.
All or Nothing: The Championship Clock is Ticking
This fall, Franklin won’t just be coaching to win. He’ll be coaching to silence the noise, rewrite the narrative, and carve a championship legacy out of the granite wall of “almosts.”
For Penn State, it’s now or never.
- Win the Big Ten.
- Take down Michigan and Ohio State.
- Slay November’s demons.
- And make the playoff run more than just a cameo appearance.
Because if Penn State falls short again, especially with this roster, the consequences will be deafening.
⏳ Final Verdict: Dynasty or Disaster?
The countdown to kickoff is more than a clock—it’s a time bomb. The program is stacked, expectations are sky-high, and James Franklin is now living in a world where “great season” is code for “still not good enough.”
So here’s the million-dollar (or rather, $85 million) question:
Is James Franklin the man to finally break the curse and bring the trophy back to Happy Valley—or will 2025 be remembered as the year Penn State’s dream team collapsed under the weight of its own expectations?
Buckle up, college football fans. The Lions are coming.
And James Franklin is running out of tomorrows.
