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Penn State Nittany Lions Athletic director Pat Kraft made the decision to hire head football coach James Franklin, and he told reporters Monday that it wasn’t just the three-game losing streak that led to the decision.
Franklin’s departure is a shock College footballas the leader in the locker room since 2014 is parting ways with the Nittany Lions, who will have to pay him a whopping $50 million.
Kraft said he was “looking at everything” after Penn State lost 22-21 to Northwestern on Saturday.
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Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft hugs head coach James Franklin after a 33-24 victory over Indiana at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in State College, Pennsylvania. (IMAGN)
“After sitting down on Saturday and looking at everything, where we were in terms of athlete welfare and where the program was going, I felt like we had to make a tough decision,” Kraft told reporters via Sports Illustrated. “When I looked at where the program was, where it is and where we want to be, I felt like there was no other course. I felt like it was time.”
This is a Penn State program that was ranked No. 2 in the country before the season began. They initially took a 3-0 lead but have been in free fall ever since. It came to a head against one Northwest unranked team as fans roared to fire Franklin even louder than when Oregon went to Beaver Stadium and handed them their first loss.
PENN STATE DECIDES JAMES FRANKLIN AFTER STUNNING LOSS TO NORTHWESTERN: REPORT
Kraft and Franklin have a long-standing friendship and a professional relationship that has hit him hard on many levels.
“James Franklin is a good friend who always conducted himself with dignity and represented Penn State with absolute class,” Kraft said. “We are all fortunate to have James Franklin lead this program for more than a decade, and we wish him and his family nothing but the best.”
Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin stands on the field after the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Beaver Stadium on October 11, 2025 in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Matthew o’haren/imagn images)
The Nittany Lions will be led by Franklin assistant coach Terry Smith, who has been named interim head coach.
Franklin took over as Penn State’s head coach prior to the 2014 season leading Vanderbilt for three seasons in the same role. He was in his 12th season at Penn State after leading the team to the College Football Playoff semifinals last season.
As the team’s head coach, Franklin had a 104-45 record.
Looking ahead, Penn State will be without quarterback Drew Allar for the remainder of the season due to a leg injury sustained in the loss to Northwestern. They’ll face Iowa next week, but the schedule gets much more difficult from there.
Athletic director Patrick Kraft of the Penn State Nittany Lions is seen during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium on September 16, 2023 in Champaign, Illinois. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
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Penn State faces No. 1 Ohio State on Nov. 1 and No. 7 Indiana on Nov. 8, and four or more losses would keep them out of this season’s College Football Playoff.
Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.
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