How much is James Franklin's buyout: Penn State fans furious after UCLA disaster

Hayden Victoria

How much is James Franklin's buyout: Penn State fans furious after UCLA disaster image

One week after suffering a crushing White Out defeat against Oregon, Penn State’s football woes deepened Saturday as the Nittany Lions fell behind by nearly two touchdowns against winless UCLA.

What was expected to be a rebound game for coach James Franklin’s team has instead turned into another frustrating afternoon, adding fuel to questions surrounding the longtime coach’s future at Penn State.

How much is James Franklin's buyout? 

Franklin, who signed a 10-year, $85 million contract extension in 2021, remains one of the most secure coaches in college football — at least financially. According to estimates from 247Sports, his buyout figure sits around $56 million. This substantial amount complicates any potential move by the university without support from a collective or donor. The deal keeps Franklin under contract through 2031, making a coaching change both contractually and financially challenging for Penn State especially during the NIL era.

Franklin’s tenure has included consistent top-15 finishes and key bowl appearances. However, as on-field struggles pile up, Penn State’s administration may soon face a difficult financial and competitive decision about the program's direction.

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Hayden Victoria

Hayden Victoria is the founding CEO of Texas Sports Network and currently serves as Head of Content at SEC Unfiltered while contributing to USA TODAY’s Longhorns Wire. A proud student at the University of Texas at Austin, he has been credentialed to cover premier events like the Super Bowl, College Football Playoff National Championship, and NFL Combine.