Is Penn State football a non-threat in the Big Ten under James Franklin? The conference’s coaches weigh in

The Big Ten is set to move to a division-less format for the 2024 college football season, potentially infusing new blood into the conference title race. Arguably fewer programs benefit more from this change than Penn State football, long stifled in a top-heavy Big Ten East division. But are the Nittany Lions a legitimate threat in the new 18-team league under 11th-year head coach James Franklin?

An annual tradition, Athlon Sports recently conducted an anonymous questionnaire of coaches from across the conference. The assessment gives an inside peek of what Big Ten competitors really think of Franklin and the Nittany Lions heading into 2024.

Big Ten coaches: Penn State football “almost always trailed” conference’s elite teams under James Franklin

Last week, Athlon Sports released its annual anonymous survey of Big Ten coaches for the upcoming 2024 season. The off-the-record conversations provide a more accurate gauge of how the conference’s coaches may feel about their counterparts. At least, they often tend to offer more substance than they’re willing to say in front of the cameras during the season.

In the case of James Franklin, the reviews offer a stark assessment of where Penn State football stands — and where it may be headed — in the Big Ten. Some comments even mirror the words of the Nittany Lions’ coach himself.

“They’ve been the definition of the best-of-the-good programs for a while now. They’re never great,” one coach said. “They would’ve made a 12-team playoff last year, but they were so noticeably behind Ohio State and Michigan that it didn’t really matter. The expectation is to compete with those schools, and they’ve almost always trailed them under James Franklin.”

Not surprisingly, Big Ten foes have pinned the gap between the Nittany Lions and the top of the conference down to Penn State’s recent struggles offensively.

“They haven’t scared elite programs with their offensive skill position guys since the Saquon Barkley and Trace McSorley days,” says another coach. “You can talk about a million other things, but that’s the real difference between them and the conference leaders. OSU and Michigan scare you with their talent. They have to hit that next level as an offense.”

How do conference coaches think the Nittany Lions can take a step forward in 2024?

Just because Penn State football hasn’t recently achieved elite production at the offensive skill positions in the eyes of Big Ten coaches, that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Of course, James Franklin has potentially one of the top talents nationally at the most important position on the field in quarterback Drew Allar.

Like most of the outside world, internally, the conference is watching to see how the former five-star quarterback develops under new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki.

“The season is on Allar and how he develops with another new OC,” says the final Big Ten coach quoted in the Athlon Sports piece. Allar threw for 2,631 yards, 25 touchdowns, and two interceptions in his first year starting under ex-offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich.

Looking ahead, the Nittany Lions have a manageable path to a conference title game if they can put the pieces together. Penn State welcomes Ohio State to Beaver Stadium on November 2 after road trips to USC and Wisconsin in October. The Nittany Lions should be slight road favorites against the Badgers and Trojans and be heavy favorites against everyone else on their schedule.

So, like every year, Penn State’s conference title hopes will likely come down to a matchup with one of the Big Ten’s elite. However, unlike in years past, 2024 may not be a winner-take-all scenario.

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