Jason Mackey: James Franklin, Penn State as 2025 college football champs? It's not as nuts as it sounds.

PITTSBURGH James Franklin has been busy hiring former Ohio State assistant coaches to join his staff.

Pretty soon the Penn State football program might just snatch the Buckeyes national title honors.

There, I said it.

The coach who has long been criticized for a maddening inability to win the big game, whos 1-10 against Ohio State and 4-20 when facing the AP top 10 throughout his 11 seasons in Happy Valley, might just be the man presiding over the preseason favorite to win a national championship next college football season.

With all it has coming back, plus a coaching coup completed by poaching defensive coordinator Jim Knowles (along with former running backs coach Stan Drayton) from Columbus, Penn State should be favored to do exactly that.

And has been, according to several projection models.

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So close.

If you think about it, its exactly what Michigan did prior to winning it all in 2023 and the formula Ohio State followed this past season.

The Wolverines brought back quarterback J.J.

McCarthy, running back Blake Corum, defensive tackle Kris Jenkins and more.

The Buckeyes did the same with defensive ends Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and running back TreVeyon Henderson.

Coach Ryan Days group also went nuclear by adding quarterback Will Howard, running back Quinshon Judkins and corner Caleb Downs via the transfer portal, but you get the point.

Penn State will return Drew Allar plus two 1,000-yard running backs in Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton.

Both could break the program rushing record (Evan Royster, 3,932 yards).

Clearing those running lanes will be the return of a bunch of guys up front, including tackles Drew Shelton, Anthony Donkoh and Nolan Rucci; guard Vega Ioane; and center Nick Dawkins.

I know Allar made a terrible throw against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Ive also seen enough out of him over the years to know theres more inside; its just a matter of when and how it comes out.

That the Nittany Lions didnt have a wide receiver catch a pass against the Fighting Irish almost defied logic.

Not sure Ive ever seen that before.

At the same time, it may have been a blessing in disguise.

The need has never been more pronounced.

There should be no questioning the ability of Penn States running backs or its offensive line.

Luke Reynolds almost assuredly wont be Tyler Warren at tight end, but that was going to be true no matter what.

The key to Penn State truly becoming an elite offense under coordinator Andy Kotelnicki and not just one that's occasionally explosive should rest with a couple of transfer wideouts in Kyron Hudson and Devonte Ross.

Hudson caught 38 passes for 462 yards and three touchdowns with USC last season.

Ross (5-foot-11, 161 pounds) is undersized but had some monster numbers with another set of Trojans at Troy: 76 catches, 1,043 yards and 11 touchdowns.

If those two fit, Allar should have an easier time making that final jump, one that could thrust him into the Heisman trophy conversation (yes, seriously) and cement his status as a first-round pick.

To the Steelers? Let's slow it down some.

But not too much because I'm dead serious about Penn State being able to compete for a national title.

The Nittany Lions will enter the 2025 season as one of the best teams in the country, and those around them have questions.

Ohio State returns wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and Downs.

It's also Ohio bleepin' State, with an endless supply of funds.

But it doesnt guarantee a berth in the national championship game.

Oregon lost Dillon Gabriel and several of his weapons.

Texas must transition from Quinn Ewers to Arch Manning.

Penn State, meanwhile, has continuity at the game's most important position and should again boast a dominant defense.

You know, like the one Knowles coordinated at Ohio State last year, a group that led the country by allowing just 12.9 points per game.

Penn State will return Dani Dennis-Sutton, who had 8 1/2 sacks last year but was buried behind Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Abdul Carter.

Expect a coming-out party there.

Linemen Zane Durant and Smith Vilbert return, along with playmaking safety Zakee Wheatley.

Surely Knowles wouldnt have taken this job he had myriad offers, including a raise from Ohio State if he thought Penn State lacked the talent to compete.

And were talking about a group that was eighth in the country at 16.5 points allowed per game.

We were on the brink of greatness, and that taste of what could be has only made me hungrier, Dennis-Sutton said while announcing his return.

The jobs not done yet.

It feels weird to talk about college football in February, but this storyline has been gaining steam.

Earlier Monday, Penn States Nov.

1 game at Ohio State was rightfully listed by ESPN as one that will define the entire season.

This mightve felt like a stretch when Penn State used a favorable draw to beat No.

11 SMU and No.

3 Boise State before losing to No.

7 Notre Dame at the Orange Bowl.

But life happens fast in college football.

Knowles will help a bunch.

I didnt expect Allen and Singleton to come back, either.

Allar couldve gone either way.

But when you look back on Penn States 2024 season, the Nittany Lions lost to three out of the top four teams in the final coaches poll and did so by an average of just six points per game.

Thats impressive.

Its hard to say whether the Nittany Lions will ultimately slip past Ohio State.

Franklins record in that series stinks.

But youd think it has to change at some point, and Penn State has enough talent returning that I could see it happening in 2025.

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