James Franklin out as Penn State’s head coach
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Penn State reportedly fired head football coach James Franklin on Sunday.
The decision comes after the Nittany Lions suffered an upset loss to the Northwestern Wildcats. ESPN reported. It was the school’s third consecutive and second consecutive shocking defeat. The team lost on the road to the UCLA Bruins last weekend.
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Penn State head coach James Franklin reacts during the second quarter of the NCAA college football game against Northwestern on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in State College, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
The school reportedly owes Franklin more than $49 million. Assistant coach Terry Smith has been named interim head coach, according to ESPN.
Franklin took over as head coach at Penn State before the 2014 season after spending three years with the Vanderbilt Commodores and led the school to back-to-back nine-win seasons.
He was in his 12th season at Penn State. He finished 13-3 last season, leading the Nittany Lions to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
DEION SANDERS SEEMS SURPRISED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL PUNISHMENT OF COLORADO FANS WHO BREAKED ON THE FIELD AFTER THE WIN.
Penn State head coach James Franklin leaves a press conference following the NCAA college football game against Northwestern on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in State College, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Barry Reege)
Franklin was 104-45 as the school’s head coach.
The change comes as the school announced that quarterback Drew Allar, who was being considered as a possible NFL candidate, was out for the season. Allar suffered a leg injury in the team’s 22-21 loss to Northwestern.
Penn State will now try to salvage its season while continuing the hectic pace of its Big Ten schedule. The Nittany Lions will hit the road for their game against the Iowa Hawkeyes, but things will get tougher from there.
Drew Allar (15) of the Penn State Nittany Lions practices passing before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Beaver Stadium on October 11, 2025 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)
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The Nittany Lions will play No. 1 Ohio State on November 1st and No. 7 Indiana on November 8th. Four or more losses will likely keep Penn State out of the College Football Playoff this season.
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