Penn State Season Preview: Can Franklin And The Nittany Lions Win The CFP?

Top Storylines

• Can Franklin Win A Championship? Fair or not, HC James Franklin has be tagged a coach who can’t win “The Big One”, falling short in the Big Ten Championship Game and in the CFP last year. With his most talented and most experienced roster ever, the pressure is on Franklin to deliver a Big Ten or CFP title to Happy Valley.
• The Allar Legacy: All eyes are on senior quarterback Drew Allar. He returned for his final season after a disappointing end to the 2024 campaign, where his team fell short in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Allar is now betting on himself and the program to get back to the playoff and win it all. If he can take another step forward in his development, he could be a darkhorse Heisman Trophy candidate and a potential first-round NFL draft pick.
• Jim Knowles’ Defense Arrives: The biggest coaching move of the offseason was the hiring of former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. After leading a championship defense in Columbus, he now comes to Happy Valley to replace the departed Abdul Carter, who was a key piece of the Nittany Lions’ defense last year. The defense will need to be as physical and dominant as ever to compete with the top offenses on their schedule.
• Explosive Offense: The return of the “Thunder and Thunder” running back duo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, along with the addition of transfer wide receiver Trebor Pena, gives the Nittany Lions a more explosive offense. The run game is expected to be one of the best in the country, and the addition of Pena will provide a dynamic deep threat that the team lacked last season.

Key Players to Watch

• Drew Allar, QB: The senior quarterback is the key to the season. His arm talent, poise, and intelligence are all top-notch, and he will be asked to make the plays that win big games.
• Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, RBs: This dynamic duo is arguably the best running back tandem in the country. Singleton provides explosive speed, while Allen is a powerful, physical runner. They will be the engine of the offense.
• Dani Dennis-Sutton, DE: The senior defensive end is the leader of the defensive line. After showing flashes of elite pass-rushing ability late last season, he is expected to have a breakout year under the new defensive coordinator.
• A.J. Harris, CB: The junior cornerback is a lockdown defender who transferred to Penn State last year. He will be tasked with shutting down the best receivers on opposing teams and will be a key piece of the secondary.

Key Games

• vs. Oregon (September 27th): This is the game that everyone has circled on their calendar. It’s the annual “White Out” game in Beaver Stadium and a rematch of last year’s Big Ten Championship. A win here would be a massive statement for Penn State and a crucial step toward winning the conference.
• at Ohio State (November 1st): This game will likely decide the Big Ten East. Penn State will travel to Columbus after a bye week to face a Buckeyes team that is also expected to be a national title contender. A win in Columbus, where the Nittany Lions haven’t won in over a decade, would be a huge boost for the program and would almost certainly secure them a spot in the Big Ten Championship game.
• vs. Nebraska (November 22nd): The Nittany Lions’ home schedule concludes with Senior Day against an up-and-coming Nebraska team. With Matt Rhule entering his third year, the Cornhuskers could be a dark horse in the Big Ten. This game will be a good test for Penn State and a great way to send their seniors off with a win.

Final Prediction

This is the year for Penn State. The schedule is very favorable with a number of winnable games, and they have the talent and coaching to win the games they are supposed to. While the games against Oregon and Ohio State will be tough, I believe they are good enough to win both of them. The Nittany Lions should be the favorite to win both the Big Ten Championship and CFP.

Final Record: 12-0 Losses to: None Wins over: Nevada, FIU, Villanova, Oregon, UCLA, Northwestern, Iowa, Ohio State, Indiana, Michigan State, Nebraska, and Rutgers.