Here’s how fans, analysts reacted to Penn State football’s stunning loss to UCLA

By Josh Moyer and Jon Sauber

Updated October 4, 2025 8:14 PM

This is not how Penn State’s 2025 season was supposed to go.

Last season, the Nittany Lions were one play away from competing for a national title. With the return of multiple projected draft picks — QB Drew Allar, RB Nick Singleton, DE Dani Dennis-Sutton — this team was supposed to easily return to the College Football Playoff. Heck, PSU was one of the favorites to win it all this season.

Instead, the Nittany Lions followed up last week’s 30-24 double-overtime loss to top-10 Oregon with a stunning 42-37 loss to unranked UCLA on Saturday. It is arguably the worst loss of head coach James Franklin’s tenure, and all but eliminates this season’s playoff hopes.

Here’s how Penn State fans, former players and the college football world responded in the immediate aftermath of PSU losing to UCLA — which was a 24.5-point underdog, according to multiple sportsbooks.

You can’t let James Franklin on that plane
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) October 4, 2025

Penn State is the first top 10 team to lose to an 0-4 or worse opponent in 40 years. Brutal.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 4, 2025

You are the weakest link.
Goodbye!
Pathetic. pic.twitter.com/aj2BSiUoyO
— Cory Giger (@CoryGiger) October 4, 2025

I’ve defended James Franklin so much

I can live with the big game losses because he is rarely favored in them

Losing to 0-4 dumpster fire UCLA is frankly unacceptable

This team is so poorly coached, running backs have regressed, offensive line is shit

Drew Allar doesn’t get… pic.twitter.com/6VdS7KBNNF
— CFBTalkDaily (@CFBTalkDaily) October 4, 2025

Penn State's worst loss of the James Franklin era. It's gotta be near the top of the list in program history.

James Franklin sounded relieved to be leaving Happy Valley for a road game this week. He'll return to a campus filled with confused, frustrated and shocked people. https://t.co/ATQ90MVEqj
— Tyler Donohue (@TDsTake) October 4, 2025

Fire James Franklin.

Enough is enough.

The common theme in every single loss is the team being out-coached & not prepared.

Can’t even really shout it anymore. What more is there to say? #PennState https://t.co/EUtkIPV6N5 pic.twitter.com/uS5uFPOhYy
— Jeff D. Lowe (@JeffDLowe) October 4, 2025

Oof. https://t.co/Dm6FYZCzuF
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 4, 2025

UCLA hadn’t led for a second this year and scored ten points against Utah and New Mexico in 25+ point losses. Can’t think of a worse loss by any team this year. Oregon went Indiana Jones on Penn State last week and ripped their heart out.
— Chris Fallica (@chrisfallica) October 4, 2025

NIL made us soft?
— Tyler Davis (@Tyler_Davis94) October 4, 2025

Fire all the coaches https://t.co/3sWZTg0FU3
— Andrew Staub (@AndrewStaub) October 4, 2025

UCLA, which had never led in a game this season, upsets Penn State 42-37. Obviously this was not a ‘big’ game
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) October 4, 2025

James Franklin was tired of yall saying he loses the big game so he decided to mess around in a non-big game and prove yall wrong
— Lucy Rohden (@lucyrohden.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 3:59 PM

Andy K needs a hard look. That play call is not the call. It's not even in the ballpark.

If bags are left on the tarmac it would not surprise me.

Historically bad loss. 1995 Wisconsin comes to mind. #PennState
— Andrew Kalista (@KalistaAndrew) October 4, 2025

Should Penn State fire James Franklin?

for Yes
for No pic.twitter.com/K6ZzO6Wc7H
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) October 4, 2025

That is easily the most embarrassing PSU loss I’ve ever witnessed in my lifetime
— Jason Cabinda (@jasoncabinda) October 4, 2025

FINAL
UCLA 42, #PennState 37
The worst loss of James Franklin's tenure.
— Rich Scarcella (@nittanyrich) October 4, 2025

Unprepared. Undisciplined. Out-coached. A consistent pattern. End James Franklin’s career at PSU. FIRE HIM.
— Górski Lion (@gorski_lion) October 4, 2025

If James Franklin isn't fired after this game Penn State cares more about money than ever winning again. It's been years of mediocrity. Then years of losing to 2 good teams. Now it's this. Teams that win fire coaches who don't win. Not rocket science
— Sara (@SaraCivian) October 4, 2025

This is just awesome.

Rick Neuheisel reacts to the final play of UCLA's win, with his son calling the plays for the Bruins. pic.twitter.com/ukWnYhNQUo
— CBS Sports College Football (@CBSSportsCFB) October 4, 2025

This story was originally published October 4, 2025 at 8:01 PM.

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