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How James Franklin's Contract, Buyout Differed From Jimbo Fisher's

How James Franklin's Contract, Buyout Differed From Jimbo Fisher's

James Franklin's Penn State buyout is drawing comparisons to that of former Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher, whose 2023 firing will cost the university about $76 million.

Alonzo Ford News / Nittany Central / October 15
Penn State Football’s Roster Reality: 5 Defensive Players Next Head Coach Can’t Afford to Lose

Penn State Football’s Roster Reality: 5 Defensive Players Next Head Coach Can’t Afford to Lose

After 12 years with head coach James Franklin at the helm for Penn State Football, the Nittany Lions‘ program is set for a major reset this offseason.

Purdue vs Northwestern Prediction: Are The Wildcats Actually Good?

Purdue vs Northwestern Prediction: Are The Wildcats Actually Good?

No, no one saw Northwestern beating Penn State in State College. It was a season-changer, a program-definer for the Nittany Lions, and lost in all of it is that Northwestern is on a three-game winning streak.

Penn State Nittany Lions News / Sporting News / October 14

Penn State couldn't hire this surging Big 10 coach if they wanted to

The Penn State football program will be desperate to hire a red-hot head coach, but this Big 10 coach is likely out of reach.

Penn State Nittany Lions News / Sporting News / October 14

James Franklin required to look for a new job as part of the Penn State buyout

Unlikely Franklin will see most of the $49 million

James Franklin News / CFB-HQ on SI / October 14
Greg McElroy identifies former Big Ten coach to consider as James Franklin replacement at Penn State

Greg McElroy identifies former Big Ten coach to consider as James Franklin replacement at Penn State

The search for Penn State’s next head coach is already picking up steam, and Greg McElroy believes one familiar Big Ten name deserves attention. On Tuesday’s

Penn State Nittany Lions News / Sporting News / October 14

Penn State has a hockey recruit committed who is 7-foot-1 and 280 pounds

Come again?

Dan Patrick News / NBC Sports / October 14

Penn State will reportedly take 'big swings', including Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman

The Nittany Lions are loading up for a home run hire.

Drew Allar News / Penn State Nittany Lions on SI / October 14
Penn State Deals With Another Emotional Toll: Losing Drew Allar

Penn State Deals With Another Emotional Toll: Losing Drew Allar

Penn State center Nick Dawkins watched his quarterback leave the Beaver Stadium field for the last time on a cart. Dawkins didn't want that to be Drew Allar's last memory of his career.

College Football News / Yardbarker / October 14
Matt Rhule says right things about Penn State but Nebraska must be worried

Matt Rhule says right things about Penn State but Nebraska must be worried

When long-time Penn State head coach James Franklin was fired this past weekend, Nebraska coach Matt Rhule was one of the first names to be mentioned on all of the hot lists. And with good reason. 

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James Franklin News / Athlon Sports / October 14
Penn State 2027 Class Gone After Franklin Firing 2026 Recruits Holding On

Penn State 2027 Class Gone After Franklin Firing 2026 Recruits Holding On

The chain reaction began the moment Penn State announced the firing of head coach James Franklin. Within minutes, the program’s once-elite 2027 class began to unravel.

College Football News / CFB-HQ on SI / October 14
Penn State to make 'big swing' in push to poach $54 million star coach: Report

Penn State to make 'big swing' in push to poach $54 million star coach: Report

The latest college football rumors indicate there are a few common names that appear to be the consensus top candidates Penn State will explore to be the team's next head coach.

Penn State Nittany Lions News / ESPN / October 14

Defensive stop rate for all 136 CFB teams at midseason: Penn State falling fast

We rank the top defenses each week based on how many times an opponent's drive ends without points.

Penn State Nittany Lions News / Penn State Nittany Lions on SI / October 14
What We Know About Penn State's Coaching Search

What We Know About Penn State's Coaching Search

Penn State has begun the most high-profile coaching search of the season so far, as it moves to replace James Franklin, who was let go after nearly 12 years with the program.

College Football News / EasySportz / October 14
James Franklin’s Fall From Grace: Penn State’s Long-Overdue Reckoning

James Franklin’s Fall From Grace: Penn State’s Long-Overdue Reckoning

The Nittany Lions finally cut ties with a coach who talked big, delivered little, and left a trail of failures and questions in his wake. Penn State finally made the move it should have made years ago: they pulled the plug on James Franklin.

Penn State Nittany Lions News / Sporting News / October 14

Josh Pate drags Penn State, says firing James Franklin 'is insane'

Josh Pate was not pleased with Penn State's decision to fire head coach James Franklin, questioning what's next for the school.

Penn State Nittany Lions News / Sporting News / October 14

James Franklin's buyout will cost Penn State tens of thousands per day

The cost of sacking James Franklin is an inconceivable sum.

College Football News / Larry Brown Sports / October 13
Penn State AD reveals when he decided to fire James Franklin

Penn State AD reveals when he decided to fire James Franklin

Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft revealed new details Monday regarding what drove him to fire coach James Franklin. Franklin was fired on Sunday, one day after the Nittany Lions suffered a shocking home loss to Northwestern.

Paul Finebaum News / CFB-HQ on SI / October 13
Paul Finebaum reveals why Penn State ended the James Franklin era

Paul Finebaum reveals why Penn State ended the James Franklin era

On Monday morning's episode of First Take, the crew had to spotlight college football for a few minutes when SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum hopped on board to break down the shocking dismissal of Penn State head coach James Franklin over the weekend.

Penn State Nittany Lions News / Yardbarker / October 13
Penn State AD Pat Kraft delivers impassioned vision for next HC

Penn State AD Pat Kraft delivers impassioned vision for next head coach

This was supposed to be the year for Penn State to take the next step, but consecutive losses to Oregon, UCLA and Northwestern signaled the end of James Franklin's time in Happy Valley. 

James Franklin's firing was needed, but does it solve Penn State's problems?
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Drew Allar News / Pro Football Rumors / October 12
Penn State QB Drew Allar out for season

Penn State QB Drew Allar out for season

The 2026 NFL Draft is still far off into the future, but an injury yesterday may have made a big impact on how things will turn out next April.

Penn State Nittany Lions News / Mike Farrell Sports / October 12

Wave of Recruits Decommitting After Penn State Fires Franklin

Now that Penn State has officially fired head coach James Franklin, the collateral damage to that decision has started. Three elite recruits decommitted from the program within an hour of the announcement.

Penn State Nittany Lions News / Yardbarker / October 13
Penn State should consider these candidates to replace James Franklin

Penn State should consider these candidates to replace James Franklin

The team's associate head coach, Terry Smith, will serve as Penn State's interim head coach for the rest of the 2025 season. Besides Smith, here are other candidates that the Nittany Lions' brass should consider to replace Franklin.

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Penn State Nittany Lions News / Mike Farrell Sports / October 12

Penn State: Possible Transfers to Watch

With James Franklin getting fired, plenty of interested eyes will be checking on Penn State players to see who might be interested in transferring. Here are the five players who would receive the most interest if they entered.

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