Penn State has fired James Franklin, making a change after back-to-back losses to UCLA and Northwestern.

 

Penn State football coach James Franklin: “When you lose a game, you’re second-guessed. Anytime something doesn’t go well, every decision is going to be critiqued.” (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Penn State head coach James Franklin reacts following the loss against Northwestern on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in State College. Franklin was fired Sunday. (AP Photo/Sam Balkansky)

Penn State football coach James Franklin leaves a news conference Saturday night following the Nittany Lions’ 22-21 loss to Northwestern. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)

 

Mark J. Terrill — Associated Press Penn State coach James Franklin, center, celebrates with Ji’Ayir
Brown, left, and Sean Clifford after their win over Utah in the
Rose Bowl on Monday in Pasadena, Calif.

 

Penn State football coach James Franklin visits with Southern Lehigh student Andrew Olesh Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, at Southern Lehigh High School. Franklin arrived by helicopter to visit the tight end football standout. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Andrew Olesh and his parents, George and Donielle walk with Penn State football coach James Franklin into the high school Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, at Southern Lehigh High School. Franklin arrived by helicopter to visit the tight end football standout. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
Penn State football coach James Franklin visits with Southern Lehigh student Andrew Olesh Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, at Southern Lehigh High School. Franklin arrived by helicopter to visit the tight end football standout.
(April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
Andrew Olesh and his parents, George and Donielle walk with Penn State football coach James Franklin into the high school Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, at Southern Lehigh High School. Franklin arrived by helicopter to visit the tight end football standout. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Penn State football coach James Franklin visits with Southern Lehigh student Andrew Olesh Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, at Southern Lehigh High School. Franklin arrived by helicopter to visit the tight end football standout. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
Andrew Olesh and his parents, George and Donielle walk with Penn State football coach James Franklin into the high school Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, at Southern Lehigh High School. Franklin arrived by helicopter to visit the tight end football standout. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
Penn State football coach James Franklin visits with Southern Lehigh student Andrew Olesh Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, at Southern Lehigh High School. Franklin arrived by helicopter to visit the tight end football standout.
(April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

James Franklin is fired Sunday by Penn State after posting a 104-45 record in 12 seasons. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Penn State football coach James Franklin: “We have to find a way to beat Northwestern. That’s all that matters.” (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Penn State football coach James Franklin leads his team onto the field Saturday at the Rose Bowl before the Nittany Lions lost 42-37 to UCLA. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Penn State safety Nick Scott, right, jokes with running back Johnathan Thomas, left, as head coach James Franklin, center, stands by during an NCAA college football photo day in State College, Pa., Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018. (Joe Hermitt/The Patriot-News via AP)
FILE – In this Aug. 4, 2018, file photo, Penn State head coach James Franklin speaks with media in State College, Pa. Franklin has expanded Penn State’s recruiting base from the Northeast. His class is made up of players from 11 states, including Florida and Oregon. (Ty Lohr/York Daily Record via AP, File)
Penn State head coach James Franklin yells during an NCAA college football practice, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, in State College, Pa. (Joe Hermitt/The Patriot-News via AP)

FILE – In this Sept. 1, 2018, file photo, Penn State head coach James Franklin, left, congratulates quarterback Trace McSorley (9) after scoring against Appalachian State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa. Penn State plays Pitt at Heinz Field on Saturday and it will be the 99th in a series that dates back to 1893. It’s also the last in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future between the Panthers (1-0) and the Nittany Lions (1-0). There are no plans for the teams to play past next year’s centennial showdown at Beaver Stadium, a byproduct of the tricky scheduling of big-time college football. (AP Photo/Chris Knight, File)
Penn State head coach James Franklin, left, holds the team back during introductions before taking the field against Kent State in an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Knight)
Penn State head coach James Franklin, center, celebrates as his players return to the sidelines after a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018. Penn State won 51-6. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Penn State head coach James Franklin speaks at the Big Ten Conference NCAA college football Media Days in Chicago, Monday, July 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Annie Rice)
Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs onto the field with his team before taking on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at HighPoint.com Stadium on Nov. 17, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) ** OUTS – ELSENT, FPG, CM – OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD **
Penn State coach James Franklin jokes with linebacker Jesse Luketa during the first day of spring practice for the NCAA college football team, Wednesday, March 13, 2019, in State College, Pa. (Joe Hermitt/The Patriot-News via AP)

Penn State head coach James Franklin celebrates a Penn State touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Penn State head coach James Franklin talks about the NCAA sanctions being reduced during his weekly press conference on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, in University Park, Pa. (Nabil K. Mark/Centre Daily Times/MCT) ORG XMIT: 1157144
Tribune News Service
Penn State head coach James Franklin responds to a question during the Big Ten Conference NCAA college football media days Friday, July 19, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Penn State head coach James Franklin leads his team onto the field for their NCAA college football game against Rutgers, Saturday, Nov.18, 2023, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Penn State head coach James Franklin looks on during an NCAA college spring football game Saturday, April 23, 2022, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Mark J. Terrill — Associated Press Penn State coach James Franklin, center, celebrates with Ji’Ayir
Brown, left, and Sean Clifford after their win over Utah in the
Rose Bowl on Monday in Pasadena, Calif.

Penn State head coach James Franklin reacts during a press conference following an NCAA college football game against Northwestern, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts against the Utah Utes in the second half of the 109th Rose Bowl game in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Penn State head coach James Franklin reacts to a call during an NCAA college football game against Illinois in State College, Pa.on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. Illinois defeated Penn State 20-18 in the ninth overtime. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)

Penn State coach James Franklin received commitments from two players over the weekend.
Tribune News Service
Penn State head coach James Franklin responds to a question during the Big Ten Conference NCAA college football media days Friday, July 19, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Penn State head coach James Franklin celebrates a score with his players in the third quarter the team’s 45-13 win over Buffalo.

Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates with Cam Brown #6 of the Penn State Nittany Lions after the Nittany Lions beat the Memphis Tigers 53-39 at AT&T Stadium on Dec. 28, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) ** OUTS – ELSENT, FPG, CM – OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD **
Penn State head coach James Franklin looks to the scoreboard during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 23-20. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)
Coach James Franklin on why the preseason expectations are high for the Nittany Lions: “This is the best combined personnel that we’ve had at Penn State.” (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Penn State coach James Franklin celebrates a Fiesta Bowl victory over Boise State with his players Tuesday night. (Rick Scuteri – The Associated Press)
Penn State head coach James Franklin looks up during the second half of the Orange Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game against Notre Dame, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar and head coach James Franklin look stunned after a 30-24 loss to Oregon in double overtime Saturday night. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Penn State football coach James Franklin on Saturday’s White Out Game against Oregon: “It is a special deal. We’re fortunate and honored to coach in it, to play in it.” (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Penn State head coach James Franklin, front right, talks with Maryland head coach Mike Locksley, left, following an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)

Penn State head coach James Franklin brings his players on the field before an NCAA college football game against the Wisconsin Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Penn State football coach James Franklin suggests that conference championship games be eliminated. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Penn State coach James Franklin congratulates linebacker Dominic DeLuca on his interception return for a touchdown against SMU Saturday at Beaver Stadium. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)

James Franklin can pick up his 100th win as Penn State football coach with a victory over Oregon in the Big Ten title game. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles shouts to his players during a spring practice game in April of 2022. (Jay LaPrete – The Associated Press)
Maryland coach Mike Locksley, left, and Penn State coach James Franklin exchange words after the Nittany Lions’ 44-7 win Saturday at Beaver Stadium. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)

SAM RICHE / TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE Head coach James Franklin and Penn State players celebrate their 38-31 win over Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis on Saturday night. Unfortunately, the victory did not help the Nittany Lions get into the College Football Playoff. Instead, they will face USC in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2.
Penn State coach James Franklin, left, on the 2025 return of running back Nick Singleton and others: “Our best players are coming back. It shows you that we’re going to invest in our own roster.” (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)

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