As the College Football Playoff approaches its final rounds, the tension escalates for teams vying for the opportunity to become national champions. The Penn State Nittany Lions faced off against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the semifinal, with a coveted spot in the national championship at stake.
Fans Criticize James Franklin After Defeat in Orange Bowl
Penn State jumped to an early 10-0 advantage against the Fighting Irish, yet ultimately succumbed to a 24-27 defeat in the semifinal match. Although the season had been largely successful, head coach James Franklin faced significant backlash following yet another loss to a ranked opponent. During his time at Penn State, his record stands at an unimpressive 4-20 when facing top-10 teams.
In the aftermath of the loss, fans took to social media to express their frustrations with Franklin.
“James Franklin is the bronze medal of college football head coaches,” one user commented on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“James Franklin and Mike Tomlin are essentially the same coach. They guide their teams to winning records in the regular season but struggle in the playoffs. It’s a cyclical agony,” added another fan.
Analyst Suggests Raiders, Allar Would Be Ideal Match
Earlier this year, Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar announced his intent to return to Penn State in 2025. However, given his recent performances, some are urging him to reconsider and enter the NFL Draft. Should Allar declare for the draft this spring, one analyst opines that the Las Vegas Raiders would be an excellent destination for him.
“One player the Raiders should keep an eye on in the upcoming NFL Draft is Penn State quarterback Drew Allar. While he has expressed a desire to return to college, there remains time for him to change his mind. An outstanding performance in the College Football Playoffs could elevate him on many QB draft boards amid a relatively weak quarterback draft class,” wrote Ezekiel Trezevant of Sports Illustrated.
The Raiders are certainly in need of a quarterback, especially in a division where every other team boasts a strong signal-caller. The Kansas City Chiefs are led by the legendary Patrick Mahomes, the Chargers have Justin Herbert at the helm, and the Denver Broncos feature quarterback Bo Nix.
