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.

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.

Penn State football head coach James Franklin joked that he was ‘envious’ of Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman’s ‘hairline’ before their teams face off in the Orange Bowl