Imagine your whole era being described with one single quote: “Can’t win big games.” Ever since 2022, James Franklin has taken the Lions to the cusp of the national championships. But they never could crack it. Why is that? Is Franklin a bad coach? Not at all. The Lions comeback from 7-6 in 2021 to 13-3 in 2024 (with a playoff berth) is a testament to that. So why do fans (or critics) simplify James Franklin’s era with those words? 4-20 against Top Teams. Now, when you are trying to build a dynasty, winning games against throwaways like Delaware or West Virginia doesn’t get you the “Natty contender” title – it’s winning against the Bucks or Michigan, he-k even Ducks (at this point) is what will solidify you as a real B1G threat. So when can Lions fans finally see Franklin wipe that tag away?

“They’re going to come in with the pressure and expectation… Now it’s like if you don’t get to the National Championship game or even the final four, like there’s no coloring that season other than a failure,” Until Saturday pointed out. Franklin has found himself smack-dab in the middle of another year of “He has to prove himself” but why is that? – Jim Knowles. When the Lions’ offense got locked out during the Bucks game, and Franklin had to head home with a 7-pointer loss, OSU has only one man to thank for it: the DC Jim Knowles. Now, Franklin has played his ace – money. A $3.1 million per year deal to snag OSU’s DC from right under Ryan Day‘s nose.

Rejoice, right? Yeah, not exactly. Hear me out – with this single hiring, Penn State has acquired the No.1 DC in the country. This instantly pushes the coaching staff ranking to a whole new height, and, at this point, Franklin has already cycled through 2 other DCs. When you mix all of this up, do you think people will give the Lions the “free pass” or scrutinize them more on every single loss they face in 2025?

“Oh, how could you lose when you have the best DC in the country” would be the first chant flooding X or your favorite social media site the moment Franklin takes an L during the 2025 run. Do we think this is fair? Not at all. But can you really stop the fans (or critics) from going buck wild? Nope.

It’s like watching the Chiefs get Patrick Mahomes but then go 2-15. “How could you even do that when you have the best QB in the nation?” – it’s a big messy bag of “dilemmas”. But credit where credit is due – if Knowles brings the OSU magic to Happy Valley? Everyone will collectively lose their minds.

Potentially, Nittany Lions could become your 2024 OSU

Think about the possibilities – The Bucks stopped the Ducks to a joke of -21 yards on rushing. Keep in mind that the Ducks were the same team that decimated their 2024 rivals during the regular season. And Texas? My god, Quinn Ewers – Wisner – Jaydon Blue? But 14 points on the board?

If you take that and mix it with what Penn State’s D-line has pulled off this season? You get Godzilla Evolved!! Remember the Boise State game? Yeah, Franklin’s D-line didn’t only stop the Broncos to just 14 points – they denied Ashton Jeanty his rushing yards record.

The level of talent Franklin has on the defense + Knowles’ perfection of the defensive, and you get one unstoppable force. If this marriage works out, that 4-20 claim is going to get swept under the rug real fast.