Ain’t no way James Franklin thought he’d be dodging bullets like this in March. But here we are. The Penn State head coach just got put through the wringer on The Ruffino and Joe Show, where Joe DeLeone came in swinging with a cold, hard reality check. Franklin, who’s been in the game for over a decade, got his coaching resume shredded in comparison to Oregon’s Dan Lanning. And let’s just say, there wasn’t much for Franklin to clap back.

Blake Ruffino tried defending Franklin, ranking him above Lanning, but Joe DeLeone wasn’t having it on March 5. “I can’t put James Franklin over Dan Lanning after Dan just beat him in the Big Ten Championship,” DeLeone fired back. “The whole argument against Franklin is his inability to succeed in games against top teams.” Facts. Franklin’s big-game struggles are no secret, and Oregon’s loss only made it worse. Meanwhile, Lanning, in just his third year as a head coach, already snatched a conference title and took Oregon to heights Franklin hasn’t touched in over a decade at Penn State.

Let’s be real. Franklin’s Penn State squad had a good year — 13 wins, first-ever College Football Playoff appearance, and some dominant performances. But what happened when it really mattered? Another L. Another big-game fumble. Another stain on Franklin’s already suspect record against elite teams. Franklin’s 1-15 record against top-five teams is something you’d expect from a middle-tier coach, not someone leading a supposed powerhouse. And let’s not forget that Big Ten Championship Game where Lanning and the Ducks ran through Penn State like it was a scrimmage. Oregon straight-up bullied them, dropping 45 points in a game that was supposed to be Franklin’s shot at finally silencing the haters.

On the flip side, Lanning’s Ducks were a straight-up problem in 2024. Oregon finished the regular season undefeated, held the No. 1 spot in the AP and CFP rankings, and capped off a 35-6 record in Lanning’s first three years. That’s a .854 win percentage. For context, Franklin is sitting at .679 in his 13-year head coaching career. One man has built a contender in record time. The other? Still figuring it out.

Look, history ain’t exactly on Franklin’s side. Penn State has had hype before, but every time they’ve been on the cusp, they’ve folded. 2017? Lost to Ohio State. 2019? Same story. 2022? Michigan and Ohio State sent them packing. The script is too familiar, they simply lose to someone their own size and stat-pad against smaller programs. And that’s why nobody’s buying the idea that 2025 will be any different.

Meanwhile, Lanning is stacking wins and positioning Oregon as a true national powerhouse. He’s already recruited better than Franklin, built a culture of dominance, and in just three seasons, has his team playing at a level Franklin still hasn’t reached. That’s why the DeLeone-Ruffino debate wasn’t even close — there’s no arguing results. And Franklin’s results in big games? They ain’t it.

James Franklin’s ‘One Last Dance’ at Penn State?

The 2024 season had all the makings of a legacy-defining moment for Franklin. Penn State finally cracked the College Football Playoff, grabbed 13 wins (a program record), and had a clear path to a national championship. But just like clockwork, when the stakes were highest, they folded. A gut-wrenching 27-24 loss to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl put a giant question mark over Franklin’s tenure. His record against top-tier teams? 1-15 against top-five squads. 4-20 against top-10 opponents. Not exactly the résumé of a championship-caliber coach.

Now, heading into 2025, it’s do-or-die. Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar is back. So are star running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. The defense? Reinforced with a massive offseason splash — former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, the mastermind behind the Buckeyes’ national title defense, literally lured away to State College. That move alone sent a message: Penn State is all in this year.

CBS Sports’ John Talty sees the parallels to Michigan’s “Last Dance” season that ended in a national title. “After back-to-back ‘Last Dance’ style approaches working for Big Ten programs, could Penn State be the third in a row to win it all?” Talty questioned. He did, however, note a key missing piece: “We’d still like to see Penn State add at least one more viable, proven receiver to the mix, especially after losing Harrison Wallace [III] to Ole Miss, but it’s been a very good offseason in State College.”

The pieces are there. The coaching upgrades, the talent retention, and the hunger to silence the doubters. But the irony in the room remains: Franklin’s track record in the biggest moments. The heat’s low-key cranked all the way up, and if he can’t break through this year, what’s next? Another year of “we’re close” excuses won’t fly. This might be Franklin’s final shot to prove he can take Penn State to the promised land.

Talty summed it up best: “It was a strong response to losing Tom Allen to Clemson and showed how intent Penn State is in putting serious resources behind the program.” They’re giving James Franklin everything he needs. Now it’s time to deliver. If Penn State falls short again, Franklin won’t just be fighting for national respect — he might be fighting for his life.