The Penn State Nittany Lions have fired head football coach James Franklin after 12 seasons with the program, the school announced on its official website Sunday (October 12).

The decision to fire Franklin, 53, came after losing three consecutive games after ranking No. 3 overall in the Associated Press Top 25 poll prior to the losing streak. Associate head coach Terry Smith will serve as the Nittany Lions' interim for the remainder of the 2025 college football season.

Franklin was hired by Penn State in 2014 after leading Vanderbilt to its greatest three-year stretch in program history. The Pennsylvania native led the Nittany Lions to a 104-45 (64-36 Big Ten) record in 12 seasons, which included a Big Ten championship in 2016 and Big Ten Championship Game appearance in 2

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