Here’s how fans, analysts have reacted to Penn State football’s coaching search

By Josh Moyer

December 4, 2025 2:38 PM

Penn State football’s seemingly never-ending coaching search reached Day 53 on Thursday — and fan anger appears to be reaching a tipping point.

Since Monday alone, the Nittany Lions have reportedly struck out on two top candidates. They managed to sign just two recruits on National Signing Day. And they’ve turned in to even more of a national laughingstock. Some reporters, such as USA Today’s Paul Myerberg, think it might take one or two recruiting cycles to recover.

Penn State fans and analysts took to social media to share their surprise and/or disappointment all this week. Here’s a look at just some of those memorable tweets:

Penn State has voluntarily lit their program on fire like nothing we have ever seen before. There’s no coach & no recruiting class. They fired James Franklin because they couldn’t beat Ohio State. Now they’ll be lucky to beat Rutgers. Total disaster: pic.twitter.com/Lix3H4yd2a
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) December 4, 2025

With yet another commit flipping to Virginia Tech, Penn State’s recruiting class now sits at 150th overall.

They are one spot behind South Dakota State and one spot ahead of Prairie View A&M. pic.twitter.com/nHAniUZX9e
— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) December 3, 2025

I'll say it!

Many Happy Valley'ers told me that Penn State was a top-tier job.

It is beginning to look more and more like Penn State would look a lot more like Nebraska if James Franklin didn't save the ship.

Now that he's gone, who knows how far this spiral goes... pic.twitter.com/X193XI3lNS
— BRM (@BillyRayTweets) December 2, 2025

Now on the Penn State search committee.... pic.twitter.com/EkSvzFXZhp
— Dana O'Neil (@DanaONeilWriter) December 4, 2025

In 2003, Nebraska was laughed at for our 41 day coaching search and eventual hire of Bill Callahan. The lack of a clear plan and being turned down by other coaches made us a laughing stock.

The Penn State coaching search is now at 53 days.
— REAL HUSKER FAN (@REAL_HUSKER_FAN) December 4, 2025

Penn State’s athletic department is the definition of a DUMPSTER FIRE right now Between firing James Franklin to get a head start on the coaching search, WHIFFING on every candidate, losing 28 COMMITS, and getting absolutely BODIED by a damn cookie company… #football pic.twitter.com/74OlGVtrFZ
— Ev Hand (@Evan_Hand) December 3, 2025

Penn State National Signing Day: pic.twitter.com/B9AEjYNxCx
— Barstool Penn State (@PSUBarstool) December 3, 2025

Penn State somehow gave themselves the death penalty about a decade after escaping the death penalty.

Idk how the hell you even manage that. https://t.co/qzY2NQ9q8F
— UrinatingTree (@UrinatingTree) December 3, 2025

I was the following things in this video:
Angry
Somber
Flabbergasted
Hopeful
Venomous https://t.co/VRe6rpRX1n
— Producer Jesse (@JesseMyers88) December 3, 2025

A recruiting class of two players. Unknowns with next month’s portal. Penn State football is at risk. The ROI on the $700 mil stadium renovation is at risk. A thank you to AD Pat Kraft and the “fire Franklin” people. pic.twitter.com/bdxeMhSwRJ
— Tom Craig (@LTDManagement) December 4, 2025

Penn State trying to hire a head coach. pic.twitter.com/qRjDMuSfbu
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) December 2, 2025

What's going on at Penn State @aqshipley #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/tLZu6eEbJe
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 3, 2025

Just one option left for Penn State pic.twitter.com/myMJhLWnyM
— BetMGM (@BetMGM) December 4, 2025

On Terry Smith & PSU’s candidates

Yall called for his Head, now he’s gone. Penn state only signed 2 players in the 2026 class. On top of that Most of the current starters are leaving this Year .V-Tech just jumped 100 spots in the recruiting class rankings. Can’t find a Head Coach. NOW everybody is upset. But…
— Dvon J-Thomas🇦🇸 (@dfesquire) December 4, 2025

lol there literally aren’t any coaches left for Penn State to hire so let’s go ahead and get a head start on Terry Smith even IF he’s a for now coach which who knows might end up being a pot of gold
— Jason Cabinda (@jasoncabinda) December 3, 2025

Penn State really fired Coach Franklin prematurely and without a plan.

They are down to their 100th choice.

Might as well let Terry Smith keep it. He actually cares about the place. He has the locker room. Give him the resources to compete. pic.twitter.com/XyD9czsURd
— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) November 28, 2025

Penn State came calling, but Kalani Sitake is staying home!

This is a massive, program-defining "win" for BYU. A new contract, increased NIL, and a commitment to competitive resources signal a new era of investment for the Cougars' football future. pic.twitter.com/EfhIJSZNFr
— 365 Sports (@365sportsYT) December 3, 2025

3 weeks ago Penn State fans were debating which one of Mike Elko, Kalen DeBoer, and Marcus Freeman they were going to poach from other teams to:

Matt Patricia
Matt Campbell
Tommy Rees
Terry Smith.
— Sekrah (@sekrah) December 4, 2025

I’m going to make this very simple for all you Daboll haters.

Daboll has 5 Super Bowl rings and 1 national championship as a coach/coordinator.

He made Josh Allen.

When Terry Smith was coaching high school football, Dabol was winning his 3rd ring with the patriots.

He was an… pic.twitter.com/l9Odd8qlIB
— Penn State Dad (@PghPennStateDad) December 4, 2025

"I love Brian Daboll and he did a great job here for us..

He's a very good a coach and he's a great recruiter..

I think he would be an outstanding hire for Penn State" ~ Coach Saban #PMSLive https://t.co/gmqYpuhV2P pic.twitter.com/4tbV8eJdCu
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 26, 2025

Penn State speculation with Mike Tomlin reminds of this: "I don't have time for that speculation. That's a joke to me. I've got one of the best jobs in all of professional sport...Never say never, but never. There's not a booster with a big enough blank check." 🤣 #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/0lGYbm7g9k
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) December 3, 2025

I’m genuinely curious as to why DeBoer to Penn State is a consistent thing among talking heads.

It’s become an undesirable job. No reason why DeBoer would want to leave the SEC for that https://t.co/UcNt18a6GF
— Greg Liodice (@Gregasus14) December 4, 2025

When did this happen with Matt Campbell now having the second best odds to be the next Penn State head coach???

12:03 pm on 12/4/25 pic.twitter.com/ipSiKS50Om
— Heartland College Sports (@Heartland_CS) December 4, 2025

Hey @JoshPateCFB - Penn State Letterman here originally from Iowa (now live in Utah which has made this week interesting…) - Matt Campbell is an OUTSTANDING football coach and would be a home run for @PennStateFball. If he’s actually interested PSU better not mess this up. https://t.co/UcTsGjAEsL
— Andrew Pitz (@AndrewPitz) December 4, 2025

Josh Moyer

Centre Daily Times

Josh Moyer earned his B.A. in journalism from Penn State and his M.S. from Columbia. He’s been involved in sports and news writing for more than 20 years. He counts the best athlete he’s ever seen as Tecmo Super Bowl’s Bo Jackson.

On Terry Smith & PSU’s candidates

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