James Franklin named one of the top coaches to watch in 2025

Penn State football finally broke through the playoff bubble in 2024, winning two matchups and reaching the College Football Playoff Semifinals before falling to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. With the Nittany Lions’ core of talent set to return, expectations are higher than ever in Happy Valley for 2025.

As a result, all eyes will be on James Franklin this fall. In its 100 Days until Week 0 piece published on Thursday, ESPN ranked the Nittany Lions head coach as one of the top coaches to watch for the 2025 season. Franklin came in at No. 2, right behind new North Carolina coach Bill Belichick.

“He led Penn State to its first two CFP wins last season and will have quite possibly his best overall team, led by quarterback Drew Allar,” the article said. “But Franklin still faces the perception that he can’t win the biggest games consistently. Can he deliver Penn State’s first national title since 1986? The ingredients are there — Allar, running back tandem Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles — but Franklin must now meet the highest of expectations.”

After setting the program record for single-season wins a year ago, 2025 could be another milestone-shattering season for the Nittany Lions. Already coming in as the nation’s top team in multiple post-spring top 25 lists, Penn State football is on the verge of its first No. 1 preseason AP Poll ranking in 28 years. The Blue and White are almost assured of their first preseason top-five ranking in the AP Poll since 1999.

Penn State is an impressive 34-8 since the start of the 2022 season. However, the Nittany Lions have only two wins against top-10 opponents during that three-year span. With matchups against Oregon and Ohio State looming on the calendar this fall, 2025 has all the potential to be a narrative-changing campaign for Franklin and the Nittany Lions.

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