The Penn State Nittany Lions looked like a potential playoff team after a strong 3-0 start. But a loss to Oregon quite literally derailed their season. Things only got worse from there, as Penn State went on to lose to previously winless UCLA (0-4 at the time) and then to Northwestern. That string of losses signaled the end of an era for head coach James Franklin.
“Penn State has fired coach James Franklin after 12 seasons, the school announced Sunday. Franklin is owed more than $49 million, according to his contract. It's the second-biggest buyout in college football history behind only Jimbo Fisher's $76 million buyout from Texas A&M,” ESPN wrote.
The buyout figure is staggering, but the Nittany Lions clearly felt it was time for a change following their disastrous midseason collapse. To make matters worse, starting quarterback Drew Allar is now out for the season. Still, the decision to part ways with Franklin comes as a shock.
“Even with those recent losses, it's still one of the most shocking firings of the century in college football, a flare into the sky of Happy Valley that a 70% win percentage in State College without championship results isn't good enough,” CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer wrote.
With Franklin out, a leading replacement candidate has already emerged: Pennsylvania native Curt Cignetti. Cignetti is quickly making a name for himself in the college football world with the turnaround he's orchestrated at Indiana.
“Penn State likely will consider Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, who has turned Indiana into a national title contender in just two seasons. The work Cignetti has done at Indiana represents one of the finest coaching jobs in recent Power Four history. While there's a belief that the Hoosiers have succeeded at a historic level solely because of its offense, that's just one piece of the puzzle. Cignetti has done an outstanding job turning the Hoosiers into one of the most physical teams in the Big Ten,” USA Today’s Paul Myerberg and Austin Curtright wrote.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Cignetti would be a promising hire for Penn State. Just last week, he proved he can win the big game—something Franklin often struggled with. And he’s achieved success at Indiana with limited resources.
At Penn State, Cignetti would have everything he needs: top-tier facilities, a strong recruiting base, and full access to the transfer portal. In Happy Valley, he’d be in prime position to take the next step as a head coach.