Will James Franklin nonetheless be the coach when Penn State’s nightmare 2025 season ends?
It is a sophisticated query that in all probability ends with Franklin staying put regardless of what has occurred the final three weeks. The Nittany Lions’ slide continued on Saturday with a 22-21 house loss to Northwestern. Quarterback Drew Allar suffered a season-ending harm. Penn State went from preseason No. 2 within the AP ballot to a three-loss group.
Why is that this sophisticated? Penn State received 10 or extra video games every of the final three seasons underneath Franklin, and that included a run to the Faculty Soccer Playoff semifinals in 2024. Franklin’s struggles in opposition to top-10 groups are well-documented, however back-to-back losses in opposition to unranked groups successfully knocked Penn State out of the Faculty Soccer Playoff this season. That was surprising, to say the least.
The Nittany Lions may transfer on, however at what price? It is quite a bit. After Saturday’s loss to Northwestern, nonetheless, there might be some fascinating potential candidates to emerge if Penn State desires to maneuver on.
MORE: Breaking down Penn State’s 2025 collapse
What’s James Franklin’s buyout at Penn State?
Franklin signed a 10-year, $85 million contract in 2021. In response to 247Sports.com, Franklin’s buyout would vary within the $56 million vary – one of many top-10 largest buyouts within the FBS. That could be a hefty quantity for the Nittany Lions, particularly contemplating the renovations at Beaver Stadium and the NIL race with different Massive Ten powers. Would parting methods with Franklin actually be price it? Have in mind Penn State had an 11-11 file underneath Franklin from 2020-21 and stayed put.
Penn State teaching candidates
Who could be in line to take James Franklin’s job at Penn State? A have a look at a few of the greatest candidates:
Matt Rhule, Nebraska coach
Rhule, 50, is within the midst of a patented third-year rebuild at Nebraska. The Huskers are 5-1 and may very well be within the combine for the Faculty Soccer Playoff. Why would Rhule go away for one more faculty within the Massive Ten? Rhule can be at his alma mater, the place he performed from 1994-97. Rhule is scheduled to make $8.5 million as Nebraska’s coach this season, so it might not be an inexpensive transfer. This could nonetheless be the most-popular rent, with out query.
Manny Diaz, Duke coach
Diaz, 51, was a defensive coordinator at Penn State from 2022-23. He completed 21-15 at Miami from 2019-21 and is 13-6 since taking up at Duke. Diaz has confirmed he can deal with teaching within the NIL and switch portal period, and the prospect to improve with the Nittany Lions can be fascinating. Nonetheless, how a lot totally different would he be than Franklin within the Massive Ten?
Curt Cignetti, Indiana coach
Cignetti, 64, is 17-2 at Indiana – and the Hoosiers are in place for a second straight Faculty Soccer Playoff look. Cignetti is 36-6 within the FBS between stints at James Madison and Indiana. He wins, and he is aware of it. That needs to be enticing, however would the Hoosiers coach entertain leaving the Hoosiers for the Nittany Lions amid one other Faculty Soccer Playoff push? We now have our doubts.
MORE: Curt Cignetti throws sideline match throughout IU’s upset of Oregon
Alex Golesh, South Florida coach
Golesh, 41, could be the perfect match among the many up-and-coming American Convention coaches. He was a GA at Ohio State from 2004-05, and he is constructed on offensive coordinator stints at UCF and Tennessee. South Florida is 19-13 since he took over, and Golesh makes use of a mix of an up-tempo offense with an aggressive protection that will play effectively in Blissful Valley. It is a huge soar.
Matt Campbell, Iowa State coach
Campbell, 45, continues to observe his inventory fluctuate at Iowa State. The Cyclones received 11 video games final season, however they’ve suffered two losses in Massive 12 play this season. Campbell has Iowa State on tempo for its eighth successful season in 10 years. We now have wished to see what Campbell can do with a serious Energy 4 program for years. Is that this the fitting time to take that swing?
Pat Fitzgerald, former Northwestern coach
Fitzgerald, 50, has been out of teaching the final two seasons for the reason that finish of his tenure at Northwestern. He compiled a 110-101 file with the Wildcats from 2006-22 with groups that always overachieved, and he settled a $130 million lawsuit with the varsity for wrongful termination after being dismissed from 2022. Fitzgerald may do essentially the most with a second likelihood, and Penn State is an intriguing match.
