Drew Allar Says PSU Players Are 'Playing For' James Franklin Amid Criticism of HC

Penn State head coach James Franklin hasn't lost the support of the locker room following a 3-2 start to the 2025 season.

Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar said Wednesday he and his teammates are "playing for" the coach.

"He's getting a lot of criticism," Allar told reporters. "Nobody really knows knows what he's going through, other than him. ... There's no other coach in the country that I'd rather be going out there for on Saturday."

Penn State's last game backs up Allar's remarks to some degree.

There's no getting around to how bad a 42-37 defeat to previously winless UCLA was. The final score could've been far more lopsided if the Nittany Lions hadn't chipped away at a 20-point halftime deficit, though.

If Franklin's support was eroding, one presumes it would've been reflected in the team's second-half effort — or lack thereof.

Penn State hosts Northwestern on Saturday. That presents an opportunity to make a clear statement with Allar saying the Nittany Lions are "extremely motivated" after getting embarrassed inside the Rose Bowl:

The senior's firm endorsement of Franklin is unlikely to lessen the external pressure on the head coach, though.

Whatever goodwill and confidence Franklin generated by reaching the College Football Playoff semifinal last January has already evaporated. Coming up short against Oregon only reignited conversations about his ongoing struggles against Top-10 opponents, and almost nobody foresaw a loss to UCLA.

As time goes on, more and more fans will have little recollection of the early 2000s when Joe Paterno was on the sideline. Penn State had a run of four losing seasons in a five-year span.

By comparison, the Franklin era is a massive upgrade.

However, it's becoming harder and harder to avoid the conclusion the Nittany Lions have hit their ceiling under the current regime. A coaching change could result in a downturn, but maintaining the status quo risks having the fanbase grow more frustrated and even apathetic about basically watching the same outcome year after year.

Putting Franklin on the hot seat is a stretch because there's nothing to indicate his job is in any jeopardy. That may start to change should Penn State's performances fail to trend in a positive direction.