Every top college football program has faced its challenges on the path to achieving greatness.

Nick Saban frequently recalls the three vital touchdown passes Florida threw against Alabama in the 2008 SEC championship game, which denied the Tide a shot at the national championship title.

Following that, Alabama went on to claim three national championships in four years.

Michigan endured two College Football Playoff losses – one in a blowout (2021) and another in a surprising upset (2022) – before capturing the national title in 2023.

Now, after several close calls under coach Ryan Day, Ohio State has finally succeeded in claiming the championship.

Welcome to the challenging journey, Penn State.

“I understand the significance of winning at Penn State,” Nittany Lions coach James Franklin remarked. “Trust me, it’s been made abundantly clear to me, time and again.”

If you close your eyes, it may sound just like Day reflecting on his previous seasons or even just the last few months.

It resembles Jim Harbaugh vowing that Michigan will conquer Ohio State, or die trying — before the Wolverines finally achieved victory.

Or Kirby Smart facing Alabama headwinds. Or Dabo Swinney finally breaking through at Clemson after his program’s many close calls in significant games were often labeled Clemsoning.

It’s a harsh mix of “what have you done for me lately?” and “win or else,” with only one clear path forward.

“This is not the end,” Penn State quarterback Drew Allar stated earlier this month following their loss to Notre Dame in the CFP semifinals. “We will return.”

Franklin made a crucial move late last week by hiring Ohio State’s defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to lead his defense, filling the role vacated by Tom Allen, who accepted the same position at Clemson. Knowles directed the nation’s top defense in 2024, a squad that dominated four Top 10 teams during their national championship run.

Bringing Knowles on board not only signals a strong commitment to an already potent defense – he will be the highest-paid assistant coach in college football, reportedly earning around $3.1 million annually – but also deals a blow to a rival in the Big Ten.

However, let’s not overlook a fundamental truth: Penn State’s next priority is securing elite-level talent.

Alabama achieved national titles under Saban due to exceptional recruiting. Now that Smart is at the helm, it’s no surprise that Georgia is also regarded as a top contender in college football today.

Harbaugh and Day both excelled in recruitment and strategically utilized impactful players from the transfer portal to gain an edge in crucial matchups. Michigan’s 2023 national championship victory was largely due to a powerful offensive line composed almost entirely of players acquired through the portal.

Ohio State’s recent title win was also aided by critical portal additions, including quarterback Will Howard, running back Quinshon Judkins, and safety Caleb Downs.

Consequently, Penn State’s preparations for the 2025 season have commenced in the transfer portal to address their most glaring weakness from 2024, a shortcoming that became alarmingly evident in their biggest game of the season.

In the CFP semifinal loss to Notre Dame, Penn State’s wide receivers did not record a single catch. Yes, that’s right – not one.

Franklin has since brought in Devonte Ross from Troy, the top receiver from the Group of Five in the portal. Ross, much like Tre Harris from two years ago at Louisiana Tech, showcased impressive statistics (76 receptions, 11 touchdowns) at a lower level of competition. Harris then transitioned to become one of the best receivers at Ole Miss.

If Penn State can facilitate a similar transition for Ross and see more contributions from emerging transfer Kyron Hudson from Southern California, Allar’s third year as a starter could resemble JJ McCarthy’s breakout year at Michigan.

A five-star recruit like Allar, McCarthy reached new heights when Michigan’s offensive line improved, allowing the Wolverines to control the pace of the game with a strong running game. If Penn State is looking for a template for their revival, they should look to the successful 2023 Michigan team.

Penn State retains the foundation of a robust offensive line, and their defense is likely to be among the best in the Big Ten. Running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton — both of whom surpassed 1,000 yards in 2024 — will return for their senior seasons, providing Penn State with the ability to set the pace at the line of scrimmage.

This mirrors Michigan’s approach with running backs Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards.

“There’s a plethora of players returning who are eager and motivated for more,” Franklin stated. “They’ve experienced what it feels like, what it looks like, and what it smells like.”

Welcome to the grind, Penn State.

If you navigate this journey successfully, you might find yourself welcomed into the circle of those who persevered and achieved their goals.

And ultimately claimed victory.

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for News Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.