Paul Finebaum: It's All on the Line for James Franklin, Loss Would Be 'Unforgivable'

ESPN's college football voice issues sobering reminder.

Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin watches quarterback Drew Allar (15) throw against the Oregon Ducks during the second quarter in the 2024 Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. / Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

James Franklin has not won big games with enough frequency during his Penn State tenure. This is not breaking news. He did put one on the board when the Nittany Lions crushed SMU in Happy Valley in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Advancing as heavy favorites, though, does not change the conversation. And neither will winning the Fiesta Bowl against Boise State on Tuesday night to secure a spot in the final four of the first-ever 12-team tournament. That may be tough but it may also be fair.

Franklin now faces the unenviable proposition of not getting real credit for brining his team to the doorstep of a national championship while knowing full well that suffering an upset as the calendar turns to 2025 would be disastrous in the court of public opinion.

Paul Finebaum helpfully laid out the stakes during an an appearance on Get Up. The college football pundit said that everything is on the line for Franklin, once again.

"This would be just an unforgivable loss for a guy who's had a lot of unforgivable losses," Finebaum said.

.@finebaum says "everything" is on the line for Penn State HC James Franklin tonight against Boise State.

"This would be just an unforgivable loss for a guy who's had a lot of unforgivable losses." pic.twitter.com/8ro5CvaFiE

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) December 31, 2024

Conversely, Finebaum said a win wouldn't "do much" for Franklin.

Tough scene.

If it's any consolation, it's worth pointing out that win would put Penn State two victories from college football's ultimate crown and that might change the prevailing narrative a bit.

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