US EditionJames Franklin Shocked at Penn State Firing Him Months After Playing for a Chance at National Title
James Franklin was fired after Penn State lost three straight games following an undefeated start; he plans to continue coaching and aims to win a national championship elsewhere.
- On October 12th, Penn State announced it was dismissing James Franklin, former Penn State head coach, after 12 seasons, and Franklin made his first public appearance on ESPN's College GameDay on Saturday, October 18, 2025.
- After losses to Oregon Ducks football team, UCLA Bruins football team and Northwestern Wildcats football team, a three-game skid and Drew Allar, Penn State quarterback’s season-ending injury sealed the coaching change.
- Over 12 seasons, James Franklin, coach compiled a 104-45 record including the 2016 Big Ten Championship, seven New Year's Six bowl appearances, Penn State's first College Football Playoff appearance, and is owed a $49 million buyout.
- Terry Smith will serve as interim head coach and redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer will start at quarterback as the Lions play in Iowa City without Franklin and injured starter Drew Allar tonight.
- Franklin said he plans to continue coaching and remains determined to win a national championship elsewhere, with multiple Power Four openings including Virginia Tech, Oklahoma State, UCLA and Arkansas.
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Tulsa World
Lincoln Journal StarFranklin shocked by firing
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Penn State Players And Coaches Wear Bizarre Joe Paterno Referenece After James Franklin Firing
Penn State Interim Coach Terry Smith The Penn State Nittany Lions began the post-James Franklin Era on Saturday night when they took on the Iowa Hawkeyes in Kinnick Stadium. At the helm of the Nittany Lions is interim head coach Terry Smith. Smith, previously the team’s cornerbacks coach, is a Penn State alum who played wide receiver under Joe Paterno and was a First-team All-East in 1991. For his first-ever game in charge of the Nittany Lions, …
James Franklin makes first public comments after being fired from Penn State on College GameDay
(WHTM) — James Franklin made his first public comments on ESPN College GameDay since he was fired from Penn State's head coaching position last weekend. Franklin was fired from the head coaching job after the Nittany Lions lost three straight games during the 2025 season, including a double overtime heartbreaker to the Oregon Ducks at their White Out Game, an upset loss to the winless UCLA Bruins, and another loss at home to the unranked Northwe…
Associated Press News
James Franklin shocked at Penn State firing him months after playing for a chance at national title
James Franklin says he was shocked when Penn State fired him hours after a loss in which the Nittany Lions also lost quarterback Drew Allar to a season-ending injury but that he cannot wait to coach again elsewhere.
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