James Franklin predicted to endure another Penn State CFP heartbreaker against elite ACC team

A key question seems to pop up on a yearly basis for James Franklin's Penn State Nittany Lions: Can they win a national title?

Unfortunately, despite the talent it has returning, this year's team isn't the one, according to On3's Ari Wasserman. However, it plans to take a significant step toward continuous postseason relevance by entering the College Football Playoff as a conference champion.

By doing so, in all likelihood, will mean finally ending a colossal drought against the defending champion Ohio State Buckeyes. This is a rivalry that has haunted Penn State since 2016, but with the addition of Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator and quarterback Drew Allar, Wasserman trusts the Nittany Lions to have another major breakthrough.

By the time the College Football Playoff rolls around, though, this is where the Nittany Lions' journey gets interesting. 

Oddly enough, according to the projection, the Nittany Lions again draw Notre Dame, but this time in the Rose Bowl. For a further reminder, the national champion runner-up ended the Nittany Lions' season on their final offensive series which led to a game-winning field goal to send the Fighting Irish to the doorstep of a title.

Luckily for Penn State,  it won't have to experience it once more as it advances to the Peach Bowl. Again, one game away from a national title, the Nittany Lions fail to deliver simply because, according to Wasserman, Clemson is in a class of its own.

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"Doing it two years in a row is a sign of program growth and consistency, but Clemson returns to the promised land," Wasserman wrote.

Franklin has been adamant in the past that winning a title is the most important thing to him during his time in State College. Until he does it, he is unsatisfied.

Another semifinal projection isn't too far off if this is the year.

August will be the beginning of the gauntlet for the Nittany Lions. Breaking through once more is all that counts. 

For now, Penn State fans will have to wait to see how it all transpires.