BREAKING: Penn State football fires James Franklin

The James Franklin era of Penn State football is officially over. On Sunday, the Nittany Lions parted ways with Franklin after 12 years at the helm in Happy Valley. The news was first reported by Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports.

The decision comes after the Nittany Lions’ 22-21 loss to Northwestern on Saturday. A program in free fall, Penn State has now lost three consecutive games after starting the year as a preseason top-five team and a national title favorite.

Franklin’s buyout is over $48 million.

Deflecting from questions regarding his future following Saturday’s loss to the Wildcats, Franklin instead chose to focus on his commitment to his players.

“We got to tune out all the noise, and we got to get to work. That’s the only answer, is get to work,” he said. “We’ve had some adversity in the past, not like this, and we’re going to get to work. “I love those kids. I am committed to those players in that locker room, and I’ve been that way for 12 years. I’ve been that way for 15 years of my head coaching career, and I’ve been that way for 30 years. That won’t change.”

What does the future look like for James Franklin at Penn State? The embattled Nittany Lions head coach says his primary focus is always on his players:

"We got to tune out all the noise, and we got to get to work. That's the only answer, is get to work. We've had some adversity… pic.twitter.com/VTARcO9V1A

— Basic Blues Nation (@BasicBlues) October 12, 2025

Franklin ends his time in Happy Valley with a 104-45 record, tied with Rip Engle as the second-winningest coach in Penn State football history. The Pennsylvania native led the Nittany Lions to four New Year’s Six Bowl victories, six top-10 finishes, a Big Ten Championship, and a College Football Playoff Semifinal appearance. However, his tenure will forever be marked by an inability to beat elite teams, holding a 4-21 record against AP top-10 opponents.

“Penn State owes an enormous amount of gratitude to Coach Franklin who rebuilt our football program into a national power,” athletic director Pat Kraft said in a statement. “He won a Big Ten Championship, led us to seven New Year’s Six bowl games and a College Football Playoff appearance last year. 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.”

What is next for Penn State football?

Penn State football coach James Franklin (left) and Nittany Lions athletic director Pat Kraft (right).

James Franklin arrived in Happy Valley during one of the darkest moments in Penn State football history. While he deserves credit for restoring the Nittany Lions to national relevance, athletic director Pat Kraft will now search for a coach to lead the program into a new era of college football.

More immediately, Penn State still has half of its season left to play. Under the guidance of interim head coach Terry Smith, the Nittany Lions will travel to Iowa for a primetime showdown with the Hawkeyes next Saturday. Following a bye, matchups against top-10 teams Indiana and Ohio State loom large on the calendar.

Of course, the Blue and White will have to forge ahead with a new quarterback after three-year starter Drew Allar suffered a season-ending injury late in the fourth quarter against Northwestern. Redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer now takes over starting duties for the Nittany Lions. The former four-star prospect has thrown 13 passes in his college career, completing nine with one touchdown and one interception.

Stay tuned to Basic Blues Nation and our social media channels for updates as they are available.

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