James Franklin explains how Penn State is impacted by CFP expansion

Penn State has a case as the program, or at least is the kind of team, that most benefits from the expansion of the College Football Playoff. James Franklin thinks so too because of how it reframes the idea of success.

Franklin opened up about the new dozen-team field and its impact on the Nittany Lions during an interview with Joel Klatt on ‘Big Noon Conversations’. He thinks that it’s something that helps his team greatly as it allows more access. In turn, it gives more programs a better sense that they had a great season like they did.

“I agree with you. I mean, obviously, whether it was the year we won the conference championship and didn’t get in? Or years that we had really good years? It’s interesting,” said Franklin. “Things have changed so much, right? You go to The Rose Bowl and The Rose Bowl is not a part of the playoffs. It doesn’t seem as big of a deal where, when we grew up? You’re going to The Rose Bowl! I mean you just had a phenomenal year.”

Penn State is 88-39 (.693) over Franklin’s decade in University Park. However, due to their division and just the four-team field, their seasons ended up having a cap on them. You can see that as they’ve won just one conference title and never made the playoff. Expand it and, in hindsight, you’ll see that the Nittany Lions would have made six of the last eight with them going 74-27 (.733) overall.

That many playoff appearances, even without necessarily winning a title in one yet, would do a lot for the perception of any program, especially one that has been excelling like Penn State has.

“Dramatically. Let’s be honest – dramatically. Programs like Penn State, and however many there are out there? The playoffs made things even more challenging because the definition, to your point, has shifted,” said Franklin. “It was playoffs or bust, which also makes some of those games challenging when literally your players are being told by the fans and the media that, if you have one loss, the season is almost over in some ways.”

All in all, Franklin sees expansion as a pro for the entire sport rather than only for Penn State. More access means more meaningful games for more teams all season long. We all just have to adjust to it and enjoy all the positives that will be coming with.

“I think it’s going to be good for college football,” said Franklin. “You can make the argument in some ways – and I’m not trying to go down this path. But, the more teams we can have in, the better because I do worry about the bowls and the teams that don’t get into the playoffs. Is that going to be even more challenging than what it has been in terms of opt-outs and things like that?”

“I do think, once this thing settles, which I think it’s starting to do that. I do think it’s going to make for really exciting football, really great games that are captivating. We’re playing arguably, maybe, one of the most exciting schedules that Penn State has ever played before when you talk about the regular season,” Franklin said. “I think there’s a lot of things to be excited about. I think we have to be careful as college football coaches, ADs, analysts, fans that you focus on the things you struggle with rather than the positives because there are a lot of positives.”

We’ll all finally get to see what the expanded playoff looks like for the first time this fall. Franklin already has an idea of how it’ll be, though, and it’s going to be great both for college football as well as the Nittany Lions.

“It’s really, long-term, going to be good for college football. I know it’s going to be for Penn State,” said Franklin. “I also think it’s going to create some fantastic matchups in the playoffs. There’s going to be some unique games and unique opportunities that are presented.