Following the loss to Oregon on Sept. 28, James Franklin’s departure from Penn State appeared inevitable. The Nittany Lions adopted that up with a depressing displaying out West in opposition to UCLA, and the workforce’s newest loss, a 22-21 residence stunner to Northwestern on Saturday, turned rising disappointment into an pressing outcry from followers.
By Sunday, lower than a day after Penn State’s third consecutive loss, Franklin was formally dismissed as the top soccer coach in Blissful Valley.
Hiring a soccer coach at Penn State is in contrast to another place within the nation. With Michigan, Ohio State, and Oregon looming above them, and a checkered previous, Penn State usually finds itself attempting to be the perfect of the second tier within the Large Ten.
However the followers need extra. All of us do.
This example raises two urgent questions: what led to Franklin’s firing, and what’s the subsequent transfer in Blissful Valley? Let’s see the place Penn State has been, and the place they might doubtlessly be going:
Why Was James Franklin Fired from Penn State?
Penn State determined to fireplace James Franklin due to his lack of ability to win to huge video games, an costly contract, and failing to achieve the Nationwide Championship recreation in 11.5 seasons with the Nittany Lions.
What’s Penn State’s File in 2025?
Penn State was ranked as excessive as No.2 within the Prime-25 polls this season, however they’re now 3-3 after dropping three consecutive video games.
Again on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2025, then-No.3 Penn State hosted then-No.6 Oregon in a Large Ten battle for the ages; the sport would go on to time beyond regulation, and Oregon would emerge victorious. That loss would start the freefall, as Penn State would go on to lose consecutive video games to 2 unranked groups: at UCLA (42-37), vs Northwestern (22-21).
In Saturday’s loss to Northwestern, QB Drew Allar suffered a season-ending ankle harm. Many individuals across the Penn State program felt like Allar’s harm and Penn State falling in need of expectations made this the correct time to fireplace Franklin as head coach and transfer in a brand new path.
What Was James Franklin’s Contract at Penn State?
James Franklin arrived at Penn State in January 2014, coming over from Vanderbilt to signal a five-year, $15.25 million contract. This was proper across the time Penn State was rocked by the Jerry Sandusky scandal, leaving Franklin and his employees with an enormous reclamation challenge.
In 2021, Franklin signed a brand new 10-year deal that paid him $8 million per season, together with a $500,000 retention bonus that was paid yearly on Dec. 31.
What’s James Franklin’s Buyout at Penn State?
In response to Saturday’s article by Robby Kalland of CBS Sports activities, James Franklin’s buyout at Penn State is reportedly $56 million, which might be the second-largest buyout within the historical past of faculty soccer, trailing solely Jimbo Fisher and the $76 million Texas A&M paid him to depart.
What Was James Franklin’s File at Penn State?
James Franklin finishes his tenure at Penn State with a 104-45 document general throughout 11.5 seasons.
Over his first two seasons at Penn State, Franklin went 14-11. In 2016, the Nittany Lions started altering course with a 10-2 season that included key moments like a Large Ten Championship Recreation win and a Rose Bowl berth.
Franklin would go on to have six 10+ win seasons, together with three consecutive seasons. Final season, Franklin led the Nittany Lions to a 13-3 document, which was highlighted by a visit to the Faculty Soccer Playoff Semifinal.
What Was James Franklin’s File vs. the highest CFB Groups?
Woof, it wasn’t fairly. James Franklin went 16-29 (.356) in opposition to Prime-25 groups at Penn State, whereas going a dismal 4-21 (.160) in opposition to Prime-10 groups; that .160 successful proportion in opposition to Prime-10 groups ranks as third-worst all-time amongst coaches with 25+ video games in that setting since 1936.
Even worse, Franklin went 1-18 in opposition to Prime-5 groups, together with a 1-10 document versus Large Ten rival Ohio State.
Who’s the Interim Penn State Head Coach?
Affiliate head coach and cornerbacks coach Terry Smith has been named the interim head coach for the remainder of the 2025 faculty soccer season for Penn State.
Who’re the Favorites to Develop into the Penn State Head Coach?
A number of days after the firing of James Franklin, Curt Cignetti (Indiana HC) is the favourite to change into the subsequent Penn State head coach.
That is an intriguing choice for the college, contemplating the brand new partnership with Adidas, and it has been the “usual, usual” mentality in Blissful Valley for fairly a while. Cignetti, a Pittsburgh native, has a confirmed observe document, and for those who’re in search of a vivid star on his resume, Indiana simply went on the highway and beat Oregon, which started this entire 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 match the Franklin mildew of placing collectively strong groups however not essentially displaying up within the huge moments.
If we’re trying fully outdoors the field, Invoice Belichick (UNC HC) doesn’t look fulfilled in Chapel Hill. Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss HC) has a observe document of leaping ship for the very best alternative. For the last word residence run, John Harbaugh (Baltimore Ravens HC) is presently experiencing some woes within the NFL, and going to Penn State would arrange a Large Ten brother battle in opposition to Jim, who’s Michigan’s head coach.
