Last year, Penn State was one win away from playing for a national championship.

Last month, Penn State was one win away from the possible No. 1 ranking in the country.

Life comes at you fast.

Nittany Lions coach James Franklin was fired Sunday after a third straight loss, this one a 22-21 home defeat to Northwestern followed that embarrassment against previously unbeaten UCLA.

Penn State was ranked No. 2 in the country before losing 30-24 in double overtime to No. 5 Oregon. Yet another defeat for "Franklin "Big Game James."

“I get that narrative, and it's really not narrative, it's factual. It's the facts,” said Franklin, who dropped to 4-20 at Penn State in games against top-10 competition. “I totally get it, and I take ownership, and I take responsibility. At the end of the day, I wanted that for those kids in that locker room. How hard they work, how much they sacrifice. And we had our opportunities. We had our opportunities, but yeah, I take responsibility.”

Saturday's loss to Northwestern was the last straw as fans for the third straight game chanted "Fire James Franklin."

Franklin was in his 12th season at Penn State and had a 104-45 record, including two Rose Bowl trips and a College Football playoff berth. But the wheels fell off in a hurry. Here's some reaction to Franklin's firing:

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: James Franklin fired reaction: From CFP to unemployed, 'Life comes at your fast'

Reporting by Matthew Glenesk, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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