The Collapse in Happy Valley: Why Penn State Fired James Franklin

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The James Franklin era at Penn State is over. In a stunning, mid-season move, the university fired its head football coach, just hours after the Nittany Lions fell to 3-3 with a disastrous home loss to Northwestern.

The decision—which comes with a hefty buyout estimated to be near $50 million—was a direct result of an unfathomable three-game losing skid that completely torpedoed a season that began with national championship aspirations. Penn State, which started the season ranked No. 2 in the AP Poll, is now in search of new leadership for the first time in over a decade.

Cornerbacks coach Terry Smith has been named the interim head coach.

The Tipping Point: A Trio of Crushing Losses

While Franklin’s nearly 12-year tenure included significant rebuilding success—a Big Ten Championship, seven New Year’s Six bowl appearances, and a College Football Playoff berth—the fatal blow came from a three-week collapse in which the Nittany Lions went from a title contender to a program in crisis.

1. The Big Game Failure (Oregon)

The slide began in late September with a double-overtime loss at home to No. 6 Oregon. This defeat was frustratingly familiar, reinforcing the major long-standing narrative that has plagued Franklin: an inability to win against elite opponents. His record against teams ranked in the AP Top 10 now stands at a dismal 4-21.

2. The Unfathomable Upset (UCLA)

The loss that truly signaled the breaking point came a week later. Penn State, a 24.5-point favorite, was stunned on the road by a previously winless UCLA team. Losing to a power conference opponent who had not won a game was shocking, but the manner in which they lost was more concerning.

3. The Final Humiliation (Northwestern)

The last straw was Saturday’s 22-21 homecoming loss to Northwestern, another unranked team the Nittany Lions were favored to beat by more than 20 points. The defeat sealed a historic slide, making Penn State the first FBS team since 1978 to lose back-to-back games as a 20-plus point favorite. The loss also saw star quarterback Drew Allar suffer a season-ending injury, effectively extinguishing any remaining hope for the 2025 campaign.

What Led to the Firing: A History of Highs and Lows

Franklin’s departure, despite his overall 104-45 record at Penn State, was driven by a fundamental gap between the program’s consistent national relevance and its inability to compete for the ultimate prizes.

The “Big Game” Narrative

For years, the success of the program has been qualified by its failure against elite rivals. Despite a strong overall record, Franklin went 1-18 against Top-10 Big Ten teams, with his only victory coming against Ohio State in 2016. The expectation at Penn State is to consistently compete for Big Ten and national titles, something the program repeatedly failed to do under Franklin when faced with the highest-ranked competition.

Failing to Meet Outsized Expectations

The 2025 season was widely viewed as “National Title or Bust.” The team was preseason No. 2, returning a wealth of talent and experienced players who chose to forgo the NFL Draft. After reaching the CFP semifinals last season, the university hierarchy, led by Athletic Director Patrick Kraft, clearly decided that anything less than challenging for a championship was unacceptable. The 3-3 start, including an 0-3 mark in Big Ten play, was an unforgivable failure to capitalize on the team’s talent and was the worst six-game start for a preseason AP Top-2 team since Oklahoma in 1964.

Losing the Locker Room & Stability

The three straight losses, including two to massive underdogs, suggested a loss of focus and mental fortitude within the team—a significant sign that the head coach was losing control of the program’s direction. Franklin’s frequent coordinator changes in recent seasons (most recently hiring former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles) also signaled an underlying instability and a search for someone to take the blame, ultimately leading the pressure back to him.

Patrick Kraft summed up the administration’s stance, stating, “We hold our athletics programs to the highest of standards, and we believe this is the right moment for new leadership… to advance us toward Big Ten and national championships.

The financial cost is historic, but for a program with the pride and resources of Penn State, the price of stagnation became too high to ignore.