James Franklin was brimming with confidence during Big Ten media days — and rightly so — the Nittany Lions are entering 2023 with the most talented roster since he took over as head coach in 2014.
While the path won’t be easy, everything is in place for the Nittany Lions to make a run at one of the four College Football Playoff teams in 2023.
Here are the three reasons why:
The defense
Manny Diaz has developed a reputation as one of the top defensive coaches in all of college football — and his ability to maximize the talent he has at his disposal was on full display last season, when the Nittany Lions finished the year with a 11-2 record capped off with a Rose Bowl victory over Utah.