Here’s how fans, analysts reacted to Penn State football firing James Franklin

By Josh Moyer and

Updated October 13, 2025 10:07 AM

Penn State fires James Franklin

The James Franklin era is over at Penn State.

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The James Franklin era at Penn State is officially over.

The university terminated Franklin on Sunday, one day after his Nittany Lions fell in a 22-21 upset to Northwestern. That marked Penn State’s third straight loss, which also served as its second straight loss to a 20+-point underdog.

Penn State’s 3-3 record to this point is well short of expectations, considering it started with a No. 2 ranking in the preseason. Franklin himself said in July he believed this was the “best combined personnel” he’s ever had in Happy Valley.

Here’s how Penn State fans, former players and the college football world responded in the immediate aftermath of Franklin’s firing.

Coach Franklin offered me an opportunity to enter an environment that gave me all the tools I needed to develop & become a man. I have nothing but pure love and gratitude towards him for offering me that opportunity. We will always be family Coach, thank you for changing my life pic.twitter.com/24ace0WtRn
— Steven Gonzalez (@StevenG511) October 12, 2025

Through it all, the good, bad and the ugly. Appreciate you coach🤞🏽 pic.twitter.com/z30eVR18cR
— Dvon J-Thomas🇦🇸 (@dfesquire) October 12, 2025

Love you Coach❤️🤞 pic.twitter.com/SJJzB9S6zp
— Sean Clifford (@seancliff14) October 13, 2025

Love you coach pic.twitter.com/KOSsDWZUWx
— Cooper Cousins (@cousins_cooper) October 12, 2025

James Franklin fired by Penn State. Has any team ever gone from "national title contender" to firing their succesful longtime coach that fast?
— Jeff Ermann (@Jeff_Ermann) October 12, 2025

Didn't think Penn State would have the balls to fire James Franklin because of the buyout, but it was time. This season has been a disaster and Penn State can do better.

The one thing Franklin was elite at: Recruiting NFL guys on the regular. His rosters were loaded. Going to be…
— Chase Senior (@Chase_Senior) October 12, 2025

15 days ago Penn State almost took down Oregon, now they’ve fired James Franklin and they’re 3-3 with losses to some of the worst teams in the Big Ten
— Bordeaux (@bordeauxyoutube) October 12, 2025

It is difficult to remember a coaching tenure that went so south, so quickly.

The long-lens stuff with Franklin always felt awkward. But Penn State was a national semifinalist last season and a Big Ten favorite in August. To get from there to here so fast is jarring. https://t.co/kb6IddBIsu
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) October 12, 2025

— Tony Rojas (@Tony_Rojas5) October 12, 2025

My reaction to Penn State firing James Franklin pic.twitter.com/JdUI5sSuxJ
— Adam Breneman (@AdamBreneman81) October 12, 2025

Worth noting, because people say Franklin didn't live up to the standard. In 149 games as Penn State coach, he was 104-45. In Joe Paterno's last 149 games, he was 93-56. Franklin hit a ceiling. That's OK. It was time. But don't say he didn't lift the program.
— William Bowman (@WilliamBBowman) October 12, 2025

— Quanny B. (@JaquanBrisker) October 12, 2025

I’ve often been critical of James Franklin. Great recruiter. Great person. Good coach.
While he helped bring Penn State back to national relevance, I just never believed he was the guy who could finish the job.

I appreciate him, but time to find “the guy.”#WeAre pic.twitter.com/jr9KcEvjDm
— Jason Ashworth (@AllAshworth) October 12, 2025

This was 15 days ago. pic.twitter.com/hqiSMEOGt1
— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) October 12, 2025

Breaking News…James Franklin just donated $50M to Penn State for a new school building… pic.twitter.com/68ri8XAGJz
— Tom (@sdtommy1) October 12, 2025

Unpopular opinion, if the next hire won’t be a big time name idk how I feel about this decision.
— Fred Hansard (@Fred_Hansard53) October 12, 2025

Top 100 Middletown (Del.) Appoquinimink OT Layton von Brandt decommitted from Penn State shortly after the firing of James Franklin.

Penn State’s ‘27 recruiting class is now empty with von Brandt, 5-star Kemon Spell and 4-star Gabe Jenkins out the door.https://t.co/Hz0MFQuDMB
— Tyler Calvaruso (@tyler_calvaruso) October 12, 2025

Almost impossible to claim Franklin wasn’t the right guy at the right time 12 years ago, and that he did some really great stuff for a program that could have easily gone in another direction.

Also hard to say it wasn’t the right time for a parting of ways.
— Jeff Rice (@Jeff_Rice_) October 12, 2025

I guess losing 3 in a row and being the 1st team ever to lose twice as 20+ favorites did him in. What an absolute disaster class in Happy Valley. https://t.co/omIaBfrpXk
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) October 12, 2025

James Franklin ressurected Vanderbilt, then ressurected Penn State and had 6 double digit win seasons there. Finished ranked 9/14 years, and qualified for a bowl each season.

Kind of insane to lose your job after such a successful run. https://t.co/Ll5btORi0r
— Dudy Noble Field (@DudyNobleField) October 12, 2025

Penn State’s season just went from bad to worse. Three straight losses, Drew Allar done for the year, and James Franklin out as head coach.@ShannonSharpe @ochocinco #NightcapShow pic.twitter.com/F5kwTcCVDa
— Nightcap (@NightcapShow_) October 12, 2025