Adam Breneman and Joel Klatt are both watching Penn State—but through very different lenses. In an exclusive chat with EssentiallySports, Breneman, a former All-American and analyst, named James Franklin as one of the most underappreciated coaches in CFB. Of course, it’s a bold pick that raised eyebrows, especially since it’s his alma mater. But over at FOX, Joel Klatt sees something even bigger. He believes Franklin isn’t just underrated—he’s leading a special squad into 2025. Two analysts. One program. Very different tones. And the story continues…

James Franklin remains one of CFB’s most hotly debated HCs. His doubters point to big-game letdowns, while his backers highlight the program’s consistency and growth. Here, former Nittany Lion Adam Breneman is firmly in the latter camp—and not just out of loyalty. “Fans love to critique him, but he’s turned PSU into a perennial power,” said Breneman. And now, analyst Joel Klatt is adding fuel to the fire, calling this Penn State team one of the most dangerous in 2025. So, with momentum building, the buzz in Happy Valley is hard to ignore.

On May 6, FOX’s Joel Klatt made waves with his post-spring Top 25, placing Penn State at No. 1—above heavyweights like OSU, Texas, Oregon, and Clemson. But Klatt didn’t just drop a hot take without backup. On The Joel Klatt Show that same day, he explained his pick loud and clear: “My way-too-early post-spring number one team in the country is the Penn State Nittany Lions...” Then, he pointed to Michigan and Ohio State’s recent title runs—teams built on veteran leadership, trench dominance, and postseason redemption arcs. Now, according to Klatt, Penn State checks every box.

Look, roster retention is Penn State’s secret weapon heading into 2025. Just like Michigan in 2023 and OSU in 2024, the Nittany Lions are bringing back a loaded squad full of battle-tested vets. Joel Klatt sees the pattern—and he’s buying in. “They are following the blueprint of the teams that just won the national championship,” said Klatt. Adding, “This is why I am putting them in this spot. You look at what Michigan did in 2023, you look at what Ohio State did in 2024. Both of those teams had a core group of veteran players stay. They stayed and they won a championship.” Honestly, Penn State has the pieces—and the chip—to make noise.

According to Klatt, “Both of those teams had veterans at quarterback. They had veterans on both sides of the ball. They were excellent on both lines of scrimmage. They had chips on their shoulders from the way they were bounced from the postseason in years prior. All of that is true about Penn State.” A big part of that equation? Drew Allar. Now entering his third season, Allar follows a path similar to JJ McCarthy and Will Howard—seasoned leaders who helped their teams break through. But for Penn State, the real test still lies ahead. The Nittany Lions must win the big games, the ones that have tripped them up in the past. So, James Franklin’s record against the B1G’s top dogs—Michigan and OSU—still casts a shadow.

However, Penn State returns key firepower: QB Drew Allar, RBs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, and four starters on the offensive line. They added veteran DC Jim Knowles to pair with OC Andy Kotelnicki, now in his 2nd year. However, the biggest question? Wide receiver. In last year’s loss to Notre Dame, PSU wideouts had zero catches. But reinforcements are in—USC’s Kyron Hudson, All-ACC slot star Trebor Pena from Syracuse, and All–Sun Belt standout Devonte Ross from Troy. Now, with steady Liam Clifford and those new additions, the receiving corps should improve. But the Nittany Lions must clear their final hurdle—winning the big, even-matchup games they’ve historically fallen short in.

Well, Joel Klatt didn’t flinch when he crowned Penn State his post-spring No. 1—and the backlash came fast. CFB fans lit up social media, questioning his bold pick. But Klatt stood tall. He sees more than hype in Happy Valley. And while critics scoffed, Klatt doubled down: this is the year PSU kicks the door down. His top spot stays blue and white.

Joel Klatt is in hot water

Joel Klatt doubled down on roster retention, placing Penn State at No. 1 in his post-spring Top 25. But not every fan bought the hype. Sure, Drew Allar is a proven weapon—but his chemistry with the new transfer wideouts is still untested. That uncertainty had some fans pumping the brakes. And one echoed the sentiment, saying, “Penn State shouldn’t be at 1 but definitely top 5. Addition of Knowles and the return of many starters is huge. All depends on if Allar progresses with his new WR room.”

While Joel Klatt slotted blue-bloods like Clemson, Notre Dame, LSU, and Georgia between No. 5 and 8, he made waves by placing Penn State at the top. His “way-too-early” Top 25 turned heads—but not all fans were sold. Some pointed to last season’s three key losses as a reason to stay grounded. One fan, even while rooting for the Lions, admitted, “I’m a Penn State fan and I know we’re between 5-8.” Safe to say, the hype is real, but so are the doubts.

Simply put, not all agree with Joel Klatt’s enthusiastic predictions for Penn State. One fan summed it up with a laugh, writing, “penn state at 1 is hilarious, besides that 🤷‍♂️” — straight to the point. Even ECF chimed in with a mixed review, saying, “Penn St way too high, Miami honestly too low, Illinois too high, Michigan too high, BYU too low, Auburn too high, ASU too low imo.” While Klatt sees a title blueprint, fans are seeing flaws. So, the debate is heating up before a single snap.

While critics lined up to slam Joel Klatt’s bold Penn State take, one voice stood out from the crowd—a surprising show of support from Pac-12 country. An Oregon fan echoed Klatt’s reasoning, saying, “As an Oregon fan I can see the Penn State hype, they got a lot of returners coming back.” It’s a rare nod of agreement amid the noise. Even from the outside, the Nittany Lions’ roster continuity is turning heads.

Now, let’s see if this roster retention lives up to Klatt’s claim—or if it’s all just for show.