As Penn State's coach, James Franklin owns an abysmal 4-19 record against opponents ranked in the Associated Press top 10 -- and is just 3-10 in such games when his team is also in the top 10. It's a mark that saw a small but significant boost with Penn State's resounding 31-14 College Football Playoff quarterfinal win against No.

The energy and attention to detail the 52-year-old coach has exhibited daily for the Nittany Lions have not wavered. Now, becoming the first Black coach in a national title game could be his reward.