"He gets a lot of criticism that’s undeserved": Drew Allar defends James Franklin following his 100th win as Penn State coach

Drew Allar led Penn State to an emphatic 38-10 victory on Saturday over SMU in the first round of the College Football Playoff. The Nittany Lions beat the Mustangs at the Happy Valley to advance to the next stage, where they face Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl.

It was James Franklin’s 100th win as Penn State coach. He arrived at the program in 2014 and brought in stability, but his record against top teams has often placed him under criticism. Franklin is 3-18 against AP top 10 teams at Penn State and 1-13 against top 5.

On Saturday, Drew Allar addressed the criticism James Franklin has faced. The quarterback believes Franklin hasn't been appreciated enough for his effort in keeping the program competitive in the landscape.

“In terms of Coach Franklin, he gets a lot of criticism that’s undeserved, and he’s done a lot more than people give him credit for,” Allar said after the game on Saturday.

“Obviously, winning his 100th game, it’s special to be a part of that and be the team that was able to deliver that 100th game win to him. To have it on a stage like the playoffs and at home in Beaver Stadium, it’s truly special.”

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Drew Allar says Penn State is ignoring the noise

Despite the criticism and backlash against James Franklin and Penn State, the team remains concentrated on the playoffs. Drew Allar discussed his approach to handling the noise around the program after the win on Saturday, a strategy the team is employing.

“We don’t take these moments for granted, but, at the end of the day, me personally, I don’t care what anybody said about me from the outside just because I saw a quote like why would you take criticism from somebody that you would never take advice from?,” Allar said.

“That kind of sticks with me. There’s a lot of people out there that don’t really know what goes on behind the scenes, and it is what it is. It’s part of playing at a place like Penn State.”

Penn State is making its first appearance in the playoffs, and it's a good start against SMU. After staying under the shadows of Ohio State and Michigan in the Big Ten over the years, the expanded format of the playoffs finally gave the Nittany Lions a chance.

James Franklin’s team seems to have the easiest route to the championship game. They will be counting on the brilliance of Drew Allar, who's returning in 2025, to ensure success in the playoff.