BREAKING: James Franklin of Penn State Has a New Goal for the Postseason

Franklin is the oldest of the eight remaining playoff coaches. “As you get older, you focus on keeping the main thing the main thing,” he remarked.

While Penn State football typically restricts outside cameras in its locker room, the playoff is an exception. ESPN secured exclusive media rights, granting them certain privileges. This is why an ESPN camera was positioned on Franklin following the Nittany Lions’ 38-10 victory over SMU in the College Football Playoff’s first round.

Franklin cherishes these moments in the locker room after a win, as they offer a cathartic release from the week’s hard work. During this moment, Franklin gave ESPN a heads-up to prepare for a bleep as he shared his message. The same passionate message was later echoed in the media room.

“I’m at a point in my career where it’s all about the players,” Franklin stated.

Back in January 2014, Franklin was Penn State’s newly appointed head coach, a determined 41-year-old with a clear career trajectory and a list of goals. At the top was winning a national championship, a goal he still holds. However, Franklin has since redefined his approach to achieving that goal.

“When you’re younger as a coach, you’re focused on a lot of different things,” Franklin explained. “As a young offensive coordinator, you’re concerned with points, yards, turnover ratio, explosive plays—all of those things are still important. But as you get older, you try to keep the main thing the main thing.”

Every coach says that, but it takes time, experience, and a mix of success and failure to truly grasp it. At 52, Franklin is the oldest coach among the eight remaining in the College Football Playoff. He also boasts the longest tenure (11 years) at the same school among the group. Now considered a veteran in the coaching profession, Franklin has become a respected figure in the field, a fact Boise State coach Spencer Danielson unintentionally acknowledged this week as their teams prepare for the Fiesta Bowl.

“I don’t know Coach Franklin personally, but I have a lot of respect for him and what he’s accomplished over the years, especially this season,” said Danielson, the 36-year-old head coach of Boise State. “They’re just a touchdown away from being Big Ten champions and likely the No. 1 seed in the playoff. I’ve followed his journey for a long time.”

A long time. Franklin might not love hearing that, but Penn State’s first-round playoff win marked a significant milestone in his journey. It was his 100th victory as head coach at Penn State, though he preferred to frame the achievement in terms of his players and staff. He spoke about the importance of his long-time staff members (associate head coach Terry Smith, strength coach Chuck Losey, general manager Andy Frank, and director of football administration Kevin Threlkell), who have been with him since February 2014. For Franklin, it’s all about keeping the main thing the main thing.

“At the end of the day, it boils down to our players having a tremendous experience while they are here at Penn State,” Franklin explained. “A big part of that is winning as many games as possible, but it’s also about developing them as young men and students. And helping them chase their dreams of playing in the NFL. The older I get, the more I shed all those other things like stats, yards, and points. It all comes down to the players, relationships, the staff, and development.”

Despite Franklin’s focus on relationships and player development, his career, fairly or not, is still largely measured by a stat: his 4-19 record against top-10 teams as Penn State’s head coach. To win a national championship, Franklin would need to defeat more top-10 teams in a month than he has in his entire tenure.

But as Franklin often points out, many in college football envy Penn State’s position. His players and coaches affirmed that sentiment.

“The comment he made about being part of a family is completely true,” said first-year Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnick. “Honestly, I feel like just a small part of the larger machine he’s built here. The offensive coordinator is an important role, but Coach Franklin doesn’t get enough credit for the consistency and success he’s created. I’m just a small piece of that process.”

Quarterback Drew Allar added, “Coach Franklin faces a lot of criticism that he doesn’t deserve, and he’s done so much more than people give him credit for. Winning his 100th game is special, and being part of the team that delivered that milestone is a huge honor. To do it on a stage like the playoffs, at home in Beaver Stadium, makes it even more memorable.”

Franklin is closer than ever to a national championship, but three more steps remain. The next challenge is against Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve. Franklin plans to take each of those steps one at a time. However, at 52, he also aims to approach those steps with a broader perspective.

“I think you all know that I’ve always been a relational leader,” Franklin told reporters this week. “That’s what has always driven me in this profession, and it’s been my leadership style. But there were times when I probably spent energy on other things. Now, I focus on keeping the main thing the main thing, which is my family at home and my family at work.”