Penn State was only a few plays away from advancing to the national title game opposite Ohio State, but a Drew Allar interception killed those hopes and dreams in an eventual Orange Bowl loss.
The Nittany Lions have now reset the bar and return some key pieces, including Allar at quarterback and the running back combo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, among other notable stars.
While the schedule is by no means favorable, the Nittany Lions have one game that is arguably a must-win. They begin November against the Buckeyes in what will be Jim Knowles' first game against his old team after his sudden exit from Columbus shortly after the Buckeyes won the national title.
Despite Penn State falling short in the postseason, On3's Andy Staples still has high expectations for Franklin to reach the national title game eventually. Staples ranked the Nittany Lions ahead of the Buckeyes in his post-spring outlook at No. 4.
"Transfer receivers Kyron Hudson (USC), Devonte Ross (Troy) and Trebor Pena (added this past weekend from Syracuse) probably will determine whether the Nittany Lions are national title contenders or a very good team that makes the College Football Playoff but doesn’t make it until the end," Staples wrote. "Penn State has just about everything else. The Nittany Lions lost the aforementioned Allen to Clemson and replaced him with Jim Knowles, who was last seen helping Ohio State win a national title."
Although Franklin remains the program's key staple, he doesn't appear to have rubbed elbows with everyone in a positive light.
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An incident with a fan circulated online in which it was revealed Franklin was called a "fraud," but it has yet to be addressed by the head coach himself.
Nevertheless, it remains paramount that Franklin's Nittany Lions get back to the College Football Playoff. If they don't somehow, all bets are off regarding what his immediate future may look like.
August will be here soon enough.