James Franklin's Impact on Penn State’s Top-Five Team History

Exploring Penn State’s Journey as a Top-Five Team Under James Franklin

Becoming a top-five team in college football is challenging, but staying there is even more difficult. Currently, Penn State football is ranked fourth in the AP Poll as they gear up to face USC in Los Angeles, marking their highest ranking of the season since being placed No. 4 in Week Five of 2021.

Under James Franklin, the Nittany Lions hold a 7-4 record in the 11 games they've been a top-five team since 2016. Historically, Penn State achieved such ranking in 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2021, with Franklin at the helm.

Challenges Faced as a Top-Five Team

Penn State has only managed to defeat one ranked opponent while positioned in the top five, that being against No. 19 Michigan in 2017. Recent losses to No. 9 USC, No. 7 Ohio State, No. 17 Minnesota, and No. 3 Iowa add to the challenge of maintaining a top-five status.

• In 2016, the Nittany Lions made a remarkable climb post-October after their unexpected victory over No. 2 Ohio State.
• The 2017 season saw them ranked No. 2 for a period, before a heartbreaking loss against Ohio State.
• Despite ups and downs, the lost seasons sparked discussions around “snowballing losses,” a narrative James Franklin turned around in later years.

Current Outlook

As of now, with a ranking of No. 4 in the AP Poll, Penn State's upcoming matchups against USC, Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Washington could define their trajectory this season. Only Ohio State is currently ranked, adding to the anticipation of these high-stakes games.