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Penn State reportedly fired head football coach James Franklin on Sunday.
The decision came after the Nittany Lions suffered a loss to the Northwestern Wildcats, ESPN reported. It was the school’s third consecutive loss and second consecutive shocking defeat. The team lost to the UCLA Bruins on the road last weekend.
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Penn State head coach James Franklin reacts during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Northwestern, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in State College, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
The school would owe Franklin more than $49 million. Assistant coach Terry Smith has been named interim head coach, according to ESPN.
Franklin took over as Penn State’s head coach before the 2014 season after spending three years with the Vanderbilt Commodores, leading the school to consecutive nine-win seasons.
He was in his 12th season at Penn State. He led the Nittany Lions to the College Football Playoff semifinals last season, finishing 13-3.
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Penn State head coach James Franklin leaves a news conference following an NCAA college football game against Northwestern, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in State College, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Barry Reege)
Franklin had a 104-45 record as the school’s head coach.
The shakeup came when the school announced that quarterback Drew Allar, who was considered a possible NFL prospect, was out for the season. Allar injured his leg during the team’s 22-21 loss to Northwestern.
Penn State will now try to salvage its season while continuing its Big Ten schedule. The Nittany Lions will be on the road for a game against the Iowa Hawkeyes, but it gets tougher from there.
Drew Allar (15) of the Penn State Nittany Lions practices before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Beaver Stadium on October 11, 2025 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)
The Nittany Lions will have 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.
