Let me set the scene. You’re sitting on your couch, snacks in hand, watching Penn State claw their way through the College Football Playoff. It’s a nail-biter of a season. The Nittany Lions are one drive away from their first National Championship shot under James Franklin. And then… BAM! With a boneheaded interception, the game tied 24-24, and the whole season crashed down faster than a house of cards built with $85 million. What went wrong? Grab a seat—we’re diving in.

Damon Amendolara, the radio host with a knack for cutting through the noise, didn’t hold back. “What hurts James Franklin is that Penn State never has a dynamic quarterback under his tenure in State College,” he said, pulling no punches. “Christian Hackenberg, Trace McSorley, Sean Clifford, Drew Allar—none of those guys are going to take your program and elevate it to the next level.” And boy, is he right?

Let’s break it down. Drew Allar was like the chosen one, the Messiah, one of the highest-rated QB recruits in Penn State’s history. But did he look like a Heisman contender out there? Nope, not even close.

Sure, Sean Clifford holds every passing record in Happy Valley, but his trophy case is emptier than a soda machine on a summer day. And McSorley? Yeah, he was a vibe, a winner, but never that elite QB to push Penn State to Natty territory. So here’s the tea: Penn State obliterated defenses all season, except for that one pesky Ohio State game. They went 11-1 in the regular season and even won a couple of Playoff games. But when it came to the big stages, like the Big Ten Championship against Oregon or the Orange Bowl against Notre Dame, the wheels fell off.

And Amendolara nailed it, saying. “When you go up against the elite of the elite in playoff games, Big Ten Championship games, or national title contention, you need a quarterback who can make a big play.” Without that QB, Penn State’s offense is like a luxury car with no gas—looks great but doesn’t go anywhere.

Fast forward to the Orange Bowl. It’s tied at 24, with under a minute left. Franklin and Allar have a long field to cover. Common sense says you run it, drain the clock, make it to field-goal range, or play for overtime. But nope. Allar drops back and launches one over the middle, and Notre Dame’s Christian Gray says, ‘Thank you very much,’ snagging the pick. That had to be the biggest fumble of the season. That led to Notre Dame’s kicker Mitch Jeter drilling a 41-yard field goal to punch their ticket to the National Championship. You can’t make this stuff up.

Amendolara didn’t stop there. “Unless your head coach is capable of out-scheming everyone else, that’s a problem. And guess what? Franklin isn’t that guy,” he said. Add to that Franklin’s abysmal 1-18 record against Top 5 teams, and yeah, it’s looking rough for the $85 million man. Even the final defensive play—with nine guys on the line instead of 11 trying to block the field goal—felt like the cherry on top of a meltdown sundae.

James Franklin’s take on Penn State’s 2024 season

Despite the heartbreak, Franklin struck an optimistic tone post-game. “I could not be prouder of the young men in that locker room and the staff and how they represented Penn State and the Big Ten all season long. They deserve a ton of credit,” he said. Look, credit where it’s due—13 wins, the most in program history. And a season that saw them punch above their weight class. But for fans, ‘close but no cigar’ ain’t gonna cut it anymore.

Then Franklin dropped some Kendrick Lamar-esque bars, “The sun will come up tomorrow. And the one thing I want to make sure is that all those guys walk out of that locker room with their heads high and their chests out because they have a ton to be proud of.” Sure, coach, but when do the wins against elite teams start rolling in? That’s the million-dollar question… or should I say, the $85 million question? After all, Coach Franklin signed that monster 10-year deal back in 2021.

Penn State’s 2024 season was historic—13-3 overall and 11-1 in the regular season. And a playoff run that had fans dreaming big. Yet they still fell short when it mattered most. The Nittany Lions have the tools: a solid defense, explosive weapons, and a rabid fanbase. But until they find that generational QB or Franklin finds a way to win big games, Penn State’s title hopes will remain just that—hopes.

So, here’s the real talk, Nittany Nation. Can Franklin and Penn State finally break through? Or is Penn State finna bring in someone new who knows to win a big game or two? One thing’s for sure—the clock is ticking, and fans are getting restless. Franklin’s seat getting hotter every day.