This was the year and this was the team for Franklin and his Penn State program to prove the doubters wrong, to extinguish the derisive "Big Game James" nickname once and for all. Led by Abdul Carter, Tyler Warren and Nicholas Singleton, Franklin compiled enough elite talent to make a real run at finally breaking through that ceiling.

Notre Dame won the Orange Bowl because this program knows how to catalyze every advantage and how to tackle every challenge.

Drew Allar's critical interception sealed Penn State's loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Orange Bowl.