Penn State Dismisses Head Coach James Franklin After 12 Seasons
Penn State University has terminated head football coach James Franklin's contract after 12 seasons, following a series of disappointing performances.
Penn State University announced on Sunday the dismissal of head football coach James Franklin after 12 seasons. Franklin, who had a contract buyout exceeding $49 million, departs following a series of underwhelming performances, including recent losses to UCLA and Northwestern. Associate head coach Terry Smith will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
The Nittany Lions' recent 22-21 loss to Northwestern marked their third consecutive defeat, a streak that began with a loss to Oregon. During the Northwestern game, quarterback Drew Allar sustained a season-ending injury late in the fourth quarter. Allar, a senior, had accumulated 7,402 passing yards and 61 touchdowns over his collegiate career.
Penn State's vice president for intercollegiate athletics, Patrick Kraft, stated, "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."
Franklin concludes his tenure tied with Rip Engle for the second-most wins in Penn State history.