James Franklin’s Record in Big Games Criticized by CFB Fans After Loss to Notre Dame
Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIJanuary 10, 2025
Megan Briggs/Getty Images
Penn State is now 4-20 against Top 10 opponents under head coach James Franklin after the Nittany Lions fell 27-24 to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinals on Thursday at the Orange Bowl.
Brandon Koretz @BrandonKoretzJames Franklin at Penn State:
• 1-15 vs. top 5 opponents
• 4-20 vs. top 10 opponents
• 15-29 vs. top 25 opponents
• 4-17 vs. Michigan and Ohio State
The Nittany Lions rolled into the semifinals after a 38-10 win over SMU and a 31-14 victory against Boise State. PSU also led Notre Dame 24-17 after Nick Singleton’s third rushing touchdown with 4:38 remaining in regulation.
However, Notre Dame won thanks to three huge plays: Jaden Greathouse’s 54-yard touchdown catch, Christian Grey’s interception with 42 seconds left and Mitch Jeter’s clutch, game-winning 41-yard field goal.
And with that, Penn State lost yet another big game in the Franklin era, a fact that didn’t go unnoticed among fans and analysts alike.
Jon “Stugotz” Weiner @stugotz790If you bet on James Franklin in a big game. You have nobody to blame but yourself.
br_betting @br_bettingI can only imagine how much you’d be up fading James Franklin in big games 😭 pic.twitter.com/FK9BKfhPLI
Kayce Smith @KayceSmithTurns out, James Franklin still can’t win a big game.
Warren Sharp @SharpFootballgot to know what James Franklin said at halftime
up 10-3 & in control… but then…
outgained 261-149…
outscored 24-14…
absolute meltdown by Franklin
FrankieV UHND ☘️ @FrankieV_UHNDMarcus Freeman has more wins against top 5 teams in the last 8 days than James Franklin has in his entire time at Penn State.
Scott Bell @sbell021Gotta hand it to James Franklin. He was NOT going to let Notre Dame beat him with a fake field goal. pic.twitter.com/l5u9alvyVQ
Cheese For Everyone! @CheeseForEvery1James Franklin blew it in a big game with everything on the line? pic.twitter.com/tzpm58ce9w
LG @LGhailJames Franklin just James Franklin’d that game harder than he has ever James Franklin’d before.
big content guy @bigcontentguyMarcus Freeman has Big Dawg energy. James Franklin does not. We’re riding with a fellow big dawg tonight. Go irish
Zach Barnett @zach_barnettPenn State managed the impossible in 2024. It played a 16-game season in which the narrative around the program moved 0.0 inches.https://t.co/9UmPBPr9da
Ethan Bock @ethanbock_James Franklin is the John Wooden of Doc Rivers
Drew Garrison @DrewGarrisonJames Franklin won two playoff games and somehow still hasn’t won a big game.
🌰 Brandon Go Ohio State 🌰 @BrandonJBrandenIt’s the James Franklin special. Dominate the first half and get outcoached in the second half
Marc Luino @GiraffeNeckMarcIs there a better loser in college football than James Franklin?
Justin Toscano @JustinCToscanoJames Franklin just cannot win big games. Curious how Penn State fans feel. His teams are great — but not elite. He recruits well and has built them into somewhat of a contender, but they’re never good enough against the best.
John Martin @JohnMartin929James Franklin is never beating the big game allegations no matter what
Penn State is 101-42 under Franklin with a 64-33 Big Ten record. The Nittany Lions will finish this season with their fifth Top 10 finish in the Associated Press poll since 2016. This year also marked Penn State’s third straight season with 10 or more wins.
But PSU simply can’t win the big game in this era, for whatever reason. This year, Penn State faced Ohio State at home, but the offense fell short in a 20-13 home loss.
PSU got into the Big Ten Championship Game against Oregon, but the Ducks offense dominated the Nittany Lion defense in a 45-37 win.
The Nittany Lions outscored their first two CFP opponents 69-24 and was in position to win Thursday, but Penn State stumbled down the stretch.
Now the Nittany Lions go into a long offseason after a bitterly disappointing loss, hoping to finally find the answers toward winning the team’s first national title since 1986.
