For 11 years, James Franklin has steered the Penn State Nittany Lions, pushing them toward the elusive goal of a College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinal appearance. Since their resurgence in 2016, every season has been a march toward national prominence. On Thursday night in the Orange Bowl, Franklin’s squad stood on the brink of a championship, just two wins away. Yet, after a heartbreaking 27-24 loss to Notre Dame, a vocal portion of the fanbase is calling for his ouster.
Franklin has controversially earned the nickname “Big Game James,” highlighting his struggles against elite competition, now holding a 1-15 record against AP Top 5 teams. Despite a record-breaking season with 13 wins—the most in program history—and securing Penn State’s first two CFP victories by defeating SMU in the first round and Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl quarterfinals, the season’s narrative has been overshadowed by one critical late-game decision.
With less than a minute remaining, Franklin opted to let junior quarterback Drew Allar throw, leading to a game-deciding interception that paved the way for Notre Dame’s game-winning field goal. The backlash was swift, with social media ablaze, reigniting criticism reminiscent of the midseason loss to Ohio State. Critics are quick to dismiss Penn State’s victories over SMU and Boise State, attributing them to a favorable draw in the newly expanded 12-team CFP format.
Fire James Franklin. Period. What more needs to be seen. Completely outcoached in the second half. Another big game, another big loss.
— Yut (@DT3Yut) January 10, 2025
Fire James Franklin
— Chris Gannaway (@Gannaway81) January 10, 2025
The ONLY good team Penn State had to beat was ND it won’t get much easier than this lol , fire James Franklin
— GPF Crennan (@crennan_pippen) January 10, 2025
Fire Franklin. The man doesn’t understand basic coaching concepts and situational football. It seems like the most basic mistakes repeated in big games. We Are Penn State deserves better than this.
— The American Gypsy Cowboy (@swenyfires) January 10, 2025
james franklin is the biggest bum on earth man dude can NEVER win a big game. beat two teams he was favored by ten points against and folks thought this was the team man LMAOOOOO fuck u
— Jack (@stearnsHOF) January 10, 2025
However, amidst the storm of criticism, some analysts argue that the blame rests more with Allar’s execution than Franklin’s decision-making. The young quarterback’s costly turnover in a crucial moment has drawn scrutiny from both fans and pundits.
Despite the outcry, Penn State is unlikely to part ways with Franklin this offseason. His tenure, marked by consistent success and program-building achievements, positions the Nittany Lions as strong contenders for both the Big Ten title and a national championship next season. Franklin’s journey with Penn State may have faced a setback, but the foundation for future success remains firmly intact.
