Penn State University made headlines this past weekend by firing head coach James Franklin following the team's disheartening third consecutive loss, which brought their season record to 3-3. This decision sparked debate among fans and analysts alike, especially considering Franklin's prior successes, including leading the Nittany Lions to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff less than a year ago.
On the latest episode of the College GameDay podcast, ESPN College GameDay host Rece Davis expressed his surprise at the timing of Franklin's dismissal. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” Davis remarked. He emphasized that the decision to part ways mid-season seemed "borderline nuts," even if the intention was to separate by the end of the year.
While Davis acknowledged that the Nittany Lions' collapse this season was inexcusable, he pointed out that just weeks ago, they were ranked in the top 5. The team suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss to Oregon before experiencing back-to-back defeats against UCLA and Northwestern, despite being favored by over 20 points in those matchups. “Fifteen days ago they were ranked third in the country,” Davis noted. “They let go of the rope. They lost control of the season, and now their program is at the bottom and they’re getting ready to start over.”
Another voice on the College GameDay podcast, ESPN reporter Pete Thamel, shared his thoughts about the decision to move on from Franklin. Thamel recognized Franklin's significant contributions to the Nittany Lions, stating, “James Franklin did a lot for that university. He did a lot of hard work to bring them back to respectability, competitiveness, and contention.”
However, Thamel was not surprised by the change, emphasizing the lack of a Big Ten Championship victory since 2016 and the reality of Franklin's struggles in high-stakes games. “His big game failures were very real and searing,” he stated. He concluded that the combination of this season's free fall and the historical context led the university's leadership to the conclusion that success under Franklin was unlikely after 12 years.
As Penn State University prepares to move forward without James Franklin, the future of the Nittany Lions program remains uncertain. The focus now shifts to finding a new head coach who can restore the team's competitive edge and lead them back to prominence in college football.
With this pivotal moment in their athletic history, fans and alumni alike will be watching closely to see how the university navigates this transition and what lies ahead for Penn State football.
