The new 12-team College Football Playoff format has opened the door for many programs that have been just outside the top four teams since it was introduced in 2014. Perhaps no team could benefit more than the Penn State Nittany Lions.
They have finished inside the top 12 teams six times under the guidance of coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag], and they have the roster talent needed to be that highly ranked once again in 2024. ESPN reporters Adam Rittenberg and Jake Trotter like their chances, naming them as a team “in the running” for a playoff spot in their recent Big Ten preview article.
They believe the key to a potential playoff appearance is unlocking QB [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag]’s immense potential, something new offensive coordinator [autotag]Andy Kotelnicki[/autotag] was brought in to do. Kotelnicki had a lot of success with his offenses at Kansas over the past two seasons, and he hopes to bring that success to Penn State.
By Kotelnicki’s own account, it seems Allar is embracing coaching and wants to do everything to get better.
“He will do whatever you ask him to do to improve.” 🗣️
OC Andy Kotelnicki speaks about QB Drew Allar’s desire to improve. #B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/6zl1mATYAF
— Penn State On BTN (@PennStateOnBTN) August 7, 2024
That is all well and good, but Allar needs to show it on the field against tough opponents if he wants his improvement to matter. Penn State’s overall offensive numbers were excellent last season, but their output against ranked teams was putrid.
In their four games against ranked opponents, they scored just 20.75 points a game with a 1-3 record. In their other nine games, they scored over 43 points a game with a 9-0 record. It would be unrealistic to expect zero drop-off against good teams, but this big of a disparity is unacceptable.
If James Franklin wants to change the narrative about his tenure at Penn State, this year is his best chance to do so. If the Nittany Lions can make it into the playoff, they will have their first real shot at a title in the last 20 years. Here’s hoping he and his players are up for the challenge.