Penn State has officially ended the James Franklin era.
According to The New York Post, the university dismissed the 53-year-old head coach on Sunday following a third consecutive defeat, capped by a stunning 22-21 home loss to Northwestern.
The move comes in the middle of Franklin’s 12th season with the Nittany Lions, and it leaves the program with major financial and football questions heading into the future.
The Nittany Lions began 2025 ranked No. 2 in the preseason polls and opened with three straight wins. Hopes of a return to the College Football Playoff, where they reached the semifinals last season, looked realistic.
But things unraveled quickly. A double-overtime home loss to Oregon set off the spiral, followed by a shocking upset on the road against a winless UCLA team. Saturday’s loss to Northwestern pushed the skid to three, and quarterback Drew Allar’s season-ending leg injury only deepened the crisis.
Franklin’s departure comes with a massive financial hit. According to ESPN, he is owed more than $49 million under the terms of his contract.
The size of the buyout had previously fueled speculation that Penn State would wait until the offseason to make a decision. Instead, athletic director Pat Kraft and university leadership decided to move swiftly, signaling a desire to stabilize the program before further losses mounted.
Franklin exits with a complicated legacy. He posted multiple double-digit win seasons, delivered a Big Ten championship in 2016, and guided Penn State back into national contention with last year’s playoff berth.
But critics pointed to an inability to beat elite competition, particularly Ohio State and Michigan consistently, and to a program that too often fell short of expectations despite top recruiting classes and significant resources.
Attention now turns to Franklin’s potential replacements. According to The Daily Collegian, several names have already surfaced.
Indiana’s Curt Cignetti is drawing buzz after transforming the Hoosiers into contenders, including a recent win over Oregon. Nebraska’s Matt Rhule, a former Penn State linebacker, has been floated as another candidate given his track record as a program builder. Internal continuity could come through associate head coach Terry Smith, who has deep ties to the program as both a former player and longtime assistant.
Other possibilities include Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, known for winning big games at multiple stops, and Duke’s Manny Diaz, who previously served as Penn State’s defensive coordinator. Even retired coaching legend Nick Saban has been mentioned as a long-shot option.
Whoever steps in inherits a roster rocked by injury, a fan base demanding results, and the weight of Penn State’s investment. With Franklin owed nearly $50 million, the university’s next move will be one of the most closely watched coaching searches in college football.