Buoyed by Chat With Nick Saban, James Franklin Responds to Critics’ Skepticism Round Penn State’s Natty Probabilities
James Franklin isn’t backing down from the noise. Penn State’s head coach fired again at critics questioning his means to win massive video games, insisting his workforce controls its future.
The Nittany Lions enter 2025 ranked No. 2 nationally with +750 championship odds. But Franklin faces acquainted questions on his means to ship when it issues most.
Franklin Dismisses Critics, Embraces Penn State Stress
Franklin addressed the skepticism instantly throughout an look on Josh Pate’s School Soccer Present.
Pate introduced up how coaches like Kirby Sensible and Ryan Day confronted comparable “can’t win the large one” criticism earlier than breaking by means of with nationwide championships. He then requested Franklin about this, “Have you ever ever thought it’s honest? It’s unfair? Or do you not care?”
“Effectively, what I believe is that no person else cares. So I’m not going to spend any time on it,” Franklin stated. “Once more, I believe on the finish of the day, once you took the Penn State job, you knew what got here with it. Once you determined to be the quarterback at Penn State, that is what comes with it.”
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James Franklin can’t win the large one…⏳ pic.twitter.com/NfPmdxsjsi
— Josh Pate (@JoshPateCFB) August 20, 2025
He embraced the extraordinary setting at Penn State. “You don’t replenish 107,000 seats stadium with regular folks. Followers is brief for fanatics, proper? You drove round this city. The place do all of them come from? In order that’s what comes with it. And we embrace that.”
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Franklin doubled his perception about Penn State’s potential, saying, “The very best half about all of it, we’re in whole management. We’re in whole management to alter the narrative. However I really like that these are the conversations we’re in. That’s why I got here to Penn State.”
Franklin Seeks Saban’s Counsel on Dealing with Stress
Within the present, Pate requested Franklin about what he had personally labored on to enhance within the final 12 months, throughout which Franklin talked about that he had not too long ago reached out to Nick Saban for steerage.
“I’m on a stroll the opposite day. I choose up the telephone and name Coach Saban, proper? Like ‘you’ve been on this state of affairs earlier than,’” Franklin defined. “He had actually good suggestions, as you may think about.”
Saban’s recommendation backed up what Franklin already believed. “A variety of occasions it’s not that they’re going to inform you something completely different. They’re reinforcing what you already know and there’s worth in that.”
The chat appears to have boosted Franklin’s confidence in dismissing critics. His perception that Penn State can management its story matches how Saban dealt with stress throughout his championship runs.
The Stakes Have By no means Been Increased
Penn State returns 14 starters from final season’s School Soccer Playoff semifinal workforce. The Nittany Lions completed 13-2, reaching the Orange Bowl earlier than falling 27-24 to Notre Dame after holding a 10-point lead.
Regardless of that success, Franklin nonetheless faces criticism about successful the largest video games. The Notre Dame loss highlighted his workforce’s sample of arising quick after they have an actual shot on the title recreation. ESPN’s Paul Finebaum not too long ago stated Franklin “doesn’t deal with stress properly,” pointing to blown leads towards Ohio State and Notre Dame.
The skepticism runs deeper than current setbacks. Franklin is 4-19 towards AP Prime 10 groups at Penn State and has by no means overwhelmed a top-5 opponent besides as soon as. Critics level to his $8.5 million yearly pay and say he hasn’t gained sufficient to match that wage or Penn State’s top-tier assets.
This season issues extra as a result of Penn State enters ranked No. 2 with actual title hopes. Franklin has his finest roster but, however critics marvel if he can lastly come by means of when the whole lot is on the road.
No less than Franklin begins with some respiration room. He will get an early likelihood to construct confidence with a good schedule. Penn State opens August 30 towards Nevada at 3:30 p.m. ET, adopted by Florida Worldwide and Villanova earlier than dealing with Oregon within the White Out recreation September 27.
Franklin believes that is his finest shot in his twelfth season with a 101-42 file and contract by means of 2031. His current dialog with Saban seems to have strengthened his perception that this workforce can lastly break by means of when the stakes are highest.
