Following the loss to Oregon on Sept. 28, James Franklin’s departure from Penn State seemed inevitable. The Nittany Lions followed that up with a miserable showing out West against UCLA, and the team’s latest loss, a 22-21 home stunner to Northwestern on Saturday, turned growing disappointment into an urgent outcry from fans.
By Sunday, less than a day after Penn State’s third consecutive loss, Franklin was officially dismissed as the head football coach in Happy Valley.
Hiring a football coach at Penn State is unlike any other position in the country. With Michigan, Ohio State, and Oregon looming above them, and a checkered past, Penn State often finds itself trying to be the best of the second tier in the Big Ten.
But the fans want more. We all do.
This situation raises two pressing questions: what led to Franklin’s firing, and what is the next move in Happy Valley? Let’s see where Penn State has been, and where they could potentially be going:
Why Was James Franklin Fired from Penn State?
Penn State decided to fire James Franklin because of his inability to win to big games, an expensive contract, and failing to reach the National Championship game in 11.5 seasons with the Nittany Lions.
What is Penn State’s Record in 2025?
Penn State was ranked as high as No.2 in the Top-25 polls this season, but they are now 3-3 after dropping three consecutive games.
Back on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2025, then-No.3 Penn State hosted then-No.6 Oregon in a Big Ten battle for the ages; the game would go on to overtime, and Oregon would emerge victorious. That loss would begin the freefall, as Penn State would go on to lose consecutive games to two unranked teams: at UCLA (42-37), vs Northwestern (22-21).
In Saturday’s loss to Northwestern, QB Drew Allar suffered a season-ending ankle injury. Many people around the Penn State program felt like Allar’s injury and Penn State falling short of expectations made this the right time to fire Franklin as head coach and move in a new direction.
What Was James Franklin’s Contract at Penn State?
James Franklin arrived at Penn State in January 2014, coming over from Vanderbilt to sign a five-year, $15.25 million contract. This was right around the time Penn State was rocked by the Jerry Sandusky scandal, leaving Franklin and his staff with a massive reclamation project.
In 2021, Franklin signed a new 10-year deal that paid him $8 million per season, including a $500,000 retention bonus that was paid annually on Dec. 31.
What is James Franklin’s Buyout at Penn State?
According to Saturday’s article by Robby Kalland of CBS Sports, James Franklin’s buyout at Penn State is reportedly $56 million, which would be the second-largest buyout in the history of college football, trailing only Jimbo Fisher and the $76 million Texas A&M paid him to leave.
What Was James Franklin’s Record at Penn State?
James Franklin finishes his tenure at Penn State with a 104-45 record overall across 11.5 seasons.
Over his first two seasons at Penn State, Franklin went 14-11. In 2016, the Nittany Lions began changing course with a 10-2 season that included key moments like a Big Ten Championship Game win and a Rose Bowl berth.
Franklin would go on to have six 10+ win seasons, including three consecutive seasons. Last season, Franklin led the Nittany Lions to a 13-3 record, which was highlighted by a trip to the College Football Playoff Semifinal.
What Was James Franklin’s Record vs. the top CFB Teams?
Woof, it wasn’t pretty. James Franklin went 16-29 (.356) against Top-25 teams at Penn State, while going a dismal 4-21 (.160) against Top-10 teams; that .160 winning percentage against Top-10 teams ranks as third-worst all-time among coaches with 25+ games in that setting since 1936.
Even worse, Franklin went 1-18 against Top-5 teams, including a 1-10 record versus Big Ten rival Ohio State.
Who is the Interim Penn State Head Coach?
Associate head coach and cornerbacks coach Terry Smith has been named the interim head coach for the rest of the 2025 college football season for Penn State.
Who are the Favorites to Become the Penn State Head Coach?
A few days after the firing of James Franklin, Curt Cignetti (Indiana HC) is the favorite to become the next Penn State head coach.
This is an intriguing decision for the school, considering the new partnership with Adidas, and it has been the “same old, same old” mentality in Happy Valley for quite some time. Cignetti, a Pittsburgh native, has a proven track record, and if you’re looking for a bright star on his resume, Indiana just went on the road and beat Oregon, which began this whole Penn State collapse. How poetic.
Guys like Matt Rhule (Nebraska HC), Manny Diaz (Duke HC/former Penn State DC), Matt Campbell, and Lance Leipold (Kansas HC) all fit the Franklin mold of putting together solid teams but not necessarily showing up in the big moments.
If we’re looking completely outside the box, Bill Belichick (UNC HC) doesn’t look fulfilled in Chapel Hill. Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss HC) has a track record of jumping ship for the best possible opportunity. For the ultimate home run, John Harbaugh (Baltimore Ravens HC) is currently experiencing some woes in the NFL, and going to Penn State would set up a Big Ten brother battle against Jim, who is Michigan’s head coach.
