Imagine starting the season as a top contender for the national title, only to watch everything crumble in a matter of weeks—that's the jaw-dropping reality for Penn State football fans after the university decided to part ways with head coach James Franklin just seven games into a campaign that began with championship dreams. But here's where it gets controversial: is this a fair call, or is it a rushed decision that could haunt the program long-term?
Just seven matches after teetering on the edge of competing for the College Football Playoff national championship, Penn State has shocked the sports world by dismissing head coach James Franklin, marking one of the swiftest and most bewildering downfalls in the annals of college football history. This dramatic turn of events occurred just a day following the Nittany Lions' third consecutive defeat and their second straight loss as heavy favorites by a margin of 20 points or more. What kicked off as a year filled with aspirations for glory quickly disintegrated through consecutive setbacks against UCLA and Northwestern over the past two Saturdays, effectively concluding Franklin's 12-year run with the team after just six games played.
Penn State's athletic director, Patrick Kraft, expressed deep appreciation for Franklin's contributions in a statement, noting that 'Penn State owes an enormous amount of gratitude to coach Franklin, who rebuilt our football program into a national power.' He highlighted Franklin's achievements, including securing a Big Ten championship, guiding the team to seven New Year's Six bowl appearances, and even reaching the College Football Playoff last year. Kraft emphasized, 'However, we hold our athletics programs to the highest of standards, and we believe this is the right moment for new leadership at the helm of our football program to advance us toward Big Ten and national championships.' This sentiment was echoed in a heartfelt tweet from the official Penn State Football account, which shared a photo with the caption: 'Thank you for everything, CJF.'
To put this into perspective for newcomers to college football, the Nittany Lions began the season with high hopes, ranked as the second-best team in the nation according to the AP Top 25 poll. They kicked things off with a perfect 3-0 record, but momentum shifted after a heartbreaking overtime loss to the then-No. 6 Oregon Ducks. From there, the team spiraled, culminating in a narrow 22-21 home defeat to Northwestern on Saturday, where quarterback Drew Allar suffered a career-ending injury that will sideline him for the rest of the year. For context, a season-ending injury like this can devastate a team's offense, as the QB is often the field general, calling plays and directing the game—think of it as losing your star chef mid-banquet.
Franklin, now 53 years old, had signed a lucrative 10-year contract extension back in November 2021, extending through the 2031 season and valued at $7.5 million annually, complete with incentives and even a $1 million yearly life insurance benefit. Under the terms of his agreement, which was fully guaranteed, he'll receive approximately $45 million as a buyout fee unless a different settlement is negotiated. This hefty payout ranks as the second-largest in college football history, only surpassed by the $77 million owed to Jimbo Fisher through 2031. For those unfamiliar, a buyout is essentially a financial severance package that compensates a coach for the remaining years on their contract when they're fired early, ensuring they're taken care of financially despite the change.
In the interim, associate head coach Terry Smith will step in as the acting coach for the remainder of the season, as announced by Penn State. Franklin's journey with the program started in 2014, arriving from a successful three-year stint at Vanderbilt where he amassed 24 victories. He replaced Bill O’Brien, who departed to take the helm of the Houston Texans in the NFL.
His early years in Happy Valley, which is the affectionate nickname for Penn State's campus in State College, Pennsylvania, saw the team post a couple of 7-6 records before a breakthrough in 2016: Franklin led them to 11 wins and a Big Ten title, though they fell to USC in the Rose Bowl. From 2016 through 2025, Penn State consistently ranked in the preseason top 10, securing double-digit wins six times. However, they never advanced beyond the seventh spot in the playoff standings until the format expanded to 12 teams in 2024. Last year, the Nittany Lions were tantalizingly close to the title game, holding a halftime lead but ultimately losing 26-23 to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. And this is the part most people miss: Franklin's record against elite competition is a glaring weakness, with a 4-21 mark against top-10 opponents and a dismal 1-18 against top-10 Big Ten foes. His .160 winning percentage against ranked teams ties for the third-worst among coaches at a single school since polling began in 1936, per ESPN stats. Franklin himself acknowledged this critique after a Week 5 loss to Oregon, saying, 'I get that narrative, and it’s really not a narrative — it’s factual. It’s the facts. I try to look at the entire picture and what we’ve been able to do here. But at the end of the day, we got to find a way to win those games. I totally get it. And I take ownership. I take responsibility.'
Interestingly, before this turbulent season, Franklin hadn't tasted defeat against unranked teams since 2021, when Penn State endured a grueling nine-overtime battle against Illinois. Yet, the tide turned dramatically: He faced boos from fans before Saturday's homecoming clash with Northwestern, and Allar's injury only amplified the frustration, leading to persistent 'Fire Franklin' chants that persisted post-game. Now, with the firing official, Penn State is shelling out a massive sum to recruit a new leader.
This decision raises eyebrows and sparks debate—after all, is Franklin truly the scapegoat for a team's misfortunes, or does the high buyout reflect a system where coaches are overpaid and underaccountable? Some might argue that Penn State's patience has run out after years of near-misses, while others could point to the program's resurgence under Franklin as evidence of his value. What do you think: Was firing Franklin the bold move Penn State needed, or a costly gamble that could set them back? Do you agree that his record against top teams is unforgivable, or should we focus more on the overall rebuild? Share your thoughts in the comments—do you side with Kraft's high standards, or do you see this as a controversial overreaction?
Oct 12, 2025
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