James Franklin's 2025 season at Penn State has been an absolute catastrophe—one that nobody saw coming and that could reshape the program's future in ways we can't fully predict yet. It's the kind of downfall that makes you question everything about coaching legacies and high expectations in college football. But before we dive deeper, let's set the stage properly for why this matters so much.
Putting James Franklin's career into perspective has always been crucial, and it's even more essential now. Sure, he's had his share of big-game disappointments and come close to the big prizes without quite grabbing them. But on the flip side, he's delivered consistent wins and transformed Penn State into a powerhouse program that fans can be proud of. It's that balanced view that helps us understand the man behind the wins.
And this is the part most people miss—context is everything, especially after a heartbreaking 22-21 home defeat to Northwestern on Saturday, a loss that officially dashes any hopes for Penn State's College Football Playoff aspirations. Franklin now holds the dubious distinction of being the first coach ever to drop back-to-back games despite being favored by 20 points or more in each, according to Fox Sports. To put that in perspective for newcomers to the sport, point spreads are betting odds that predict how much one team should win by—it's a way fans and experts gauge expectations, and blowing such massive leads twice in a row is unheard of. Only two teams in history have managed that feat in the same season: the 1996 Nebraska Cornhuskers and the 1997 Texas Tech Red Raiders. Penn State is also poised to become the first preseason top-two favorite to end the year unranked since Lane Kiffin's USC squad in 2012. You have to rewind all the way to Ron Powlus's Notre Dame team in 1994 for the last similar implosion.
The 2025 campaign was supposed to be the ultimate test of Franklin's abilities—after all, he's in his 12th year on the job and led the Nittany Lions to two Playoff victories en route to the semifinals just last season. But the verdict came in loud and clear, far sooner than anyone anticipated: a spectacular, record-breaking failure that effectively seals his fate at Penn State. The how and when of his departure? That's beside the point now. This kind of collapse is irreversible, and both the coach and the program desperately need a fresh start to heal and rebuild.
After the game, Franklin shared heartfelt words about his players, saying, 'I’d do anything to take that hurt away from them,' hinting that the constant chatter surrounding his job might have weighed on them this year. 'But like I told them, we’ve got to stick together. We’ve got to tune out all the noise and we’ve got to get to work. That’s the only answer, get to work. We’ve had some adversity in the past — not like this, but we’re going to get to work.' It's a touching sentiment, but when your team was tipped as a potential national champion, no amount of hard work can erase the sting of this double whammy of defeats.
But here's where it gets controversial—can we really blame the players for Franklin's shortcomings, or is this a systemic issue begging for deeper scrutiny? Last week's shocking 42-37 upset at UCLA, followed by the Northwestern loss, paints a picture of a team unraveling at the seams. UCLA, by the way, is riding an incredible wave under its interim coach, as evidenced by their 38-13 road win over Michigan State on Saturday—though Michigan State might just be the weakest squad in the Big Ten right now. This historic pair of stinkers comes on the heels of a grueling double-overtime setback to Oregon earlier in the season, when Franklin's struggles against elite competition were already a major concern.
Now, with the squad looking more fragile than ever—especially after quarterback Drew Allar suffered a season-ending leg injury on Saturday—Penn State can't seem to beat anyone. Their upcoming schedule is a grind: road games at Iowa and Ohio State, plus a home match against Indiana. That's a stark drop from national title dreams to potentially scraping for a bowl invite, like the GameAbove Sports Bowl (formerly known as the Motor City Bowl). It's a remarkable shift in just six weeks of play.
Penn State hasn't faced a three-game losing skid since 2021, right around the time Franklin inked a lucrative 10-year deal. And this collapse happened despite the program sorting out its Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and collectives—think of NIL as a modern system where athletes can earn money from endorsements, which Penn State streamlined to attract top talent. The school also met Franklin's facility upgrade requests and even shelled out big bucks to poach defensive coordinator Jim Knowles from Ohio State, paying him a whopping $3.1 million annually over three years—making him the highest-paid coordinator in the business. Franklin himself earns $8.5 million a year, which is modest compared to some peers, but right now, that investment looks like a questionable gamble.
To be fair, this season doesn't wipe away the solid winning foundation Franklin built at Penn State. But can anyone seriously claim he has the magic to elevate the program further, especially with the toxicity that follows such epic flops? Some seasoned players, who were likely paid generously to stick around, aren't delivering, while promising young recruits are sidelined. And while Allar's injury is a tough blow, the truth is he didn't make the leaps forward many in State College anticipated—fans are even reminiscing about his backup, Beau Pribula, who's thriving at Missouri.
The 2025 college football landscape is already buzzing with unexpected twists, even before the usual gripes about the College Football Playoff selection committee kick in. We've witnessed redemption stories, like Arch Manning grinning ear to ear after dominating rival Oklahoma, or Alabama's Kalen DeBoer proving he has coaching chops and might not bolt from Tuscaloosa just yet. Then there's Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who ditched Tennessee mid-season but showed real talent—helped by Knowles' stout defense.
Yet, for James Franklin, there's no such fairy-tale comeback on the horizon. Nothing can salvage this disastrous year; it's a lost cause. All he can do is focus on the work, as he mentioned, chase some wins in the time left, and eye those inevitable exit talks. Penn State faithful can only pray this marks the end—that Franklin eventually gets remembered like Mark Richt, a coach who had success but ultimately moved on, paving the way for someone like Kirby Smart to take the reins and lead to glory.
Oct 12, 2025
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What do you think—does this season truly doom Franklin's legacy, or is there room for forgiveness in college football? Should Penn State fans rally behind him for one more try, or is it time to hit reset? Share your thoughts in the comments; I'd love to hear if you agree or disagree with this take!
