Mirror staff writer Andy Stine

The expectations coming into this season haven’t been as high as they are in quite some time in Happy Valley. When was the last time they were so high? Maybe in 1997 when they were also ranked second in the AP preseason poll?

It’s an exciting time, and quite simply, James Franklin can silence a lot of critics this season.

Some of it has been earned. Many fans like to point out that Penn State hasn’t won a big game since the stunning 2016 upset of Ohio State.

That’s a little bit unfair. They won two pretty big games in the College Football Playoff last year. Yes, they were clearly better than SMU and Boise State, but what if they had lost one of those games? There would have been many more pitchforks pointed in Franklin’s direction.

But he has to know that this season is just a little bit different.

He has the roster that he has dreamed of since he got to State College in 2014. It’s been a long time to build to this. Franklin often likes to mention that he only had six offensive linemen when he was hired. He’s got several NFL-caliber linemen now.

Both Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen decided to come back another year. He’s added not one, not two, but three wideouts out of the transfer portal that could all become difference makers this season. Don’t forget about the tight ends who are becoming some of the best in the nation.

There’s enough starters back on defense that it could be another special year. That’s saying something with a team that had 10 of 14 games where the Lions gave up two touchdowns or less.

Franklin also has two of the most coveted coordinators in college football. Andy Kotelnicki reportedly turned down a couple head coaching job offers to remain in State College. He has become one of the most brilliant creative offensive masterminds in football.

Jim Knowles was just at the top of the mountain at Ohio State in January, and he believed that he could help Penn State get to that level. It took an annual average of $3.1 million dollars to get Knowles, but that investment could be worth every dollar if the Lions come out of this season with a national championship.

Franklin also pounded the table for more NIL opportunities for his players, and he’s seemingly got it from supporters.

He could earn a lot of goodwill with a successful season that ends with everyone being fitted for national championship rings.

But if not now, when? The noise will only get louder.

Andy Stine can be reached at astine@altoonamirror.com