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Penn State reportedly fired football coach James Franklin on Sunday.
The decision came after the Nittany Lions suffered an upset loss to the Northwestern Wildcats, ESPN reported. It was the school’s third straight loss and second shocking loss in a row. 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 reportedly owes Franklin more than $49 million. Assistant coach Terry Smith was named interim head coach, according to ESPN.
Franklin took over as Penn State’s head coach prior to the 2014 season, after spending three years with the Vanderbilt Commodores, leading the school to consecutive nine-win seasons.
He was in his twelfth 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 went 104-45 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 suffered a leg injury in the team’s 22-21 loss to Northwestern.
Penn State will now try to salvage its season as it remains in the center of 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 passing before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Beaver Stadium on October 11, 2025 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Isaías Vázquez/Getty Images)
The Nittany Lions will play No. 1 Ohio State on Nov. 1 and No. 7 Indiana on Nov. 8. Four or more losses will likely keep Penn State out of the College Football Playoff this season.
