Penn state fires coach

[Kirby Jackson]

I was hoping that they let it play out. He was on pace to lead, “the most underachieving season in the history of football.” 

[GaryPinC]

2 hours ago, JimBob2232 said:

 

Man - that was almost 20 years ago with Vandy.  Never once saw that side of him at PSU.

I can't say what actually happened behind the scenes at PSU, but he was still telling that story when he first started there.

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

1 minute ago, Kirby Jackson said:

I was hoping that they let it play out. He was on pace to lead, “the most underachieving season in the history of football.” 

"In other news today, plans were announced that Terry Pegula will underwrite a major sponsorship of PSU football, and name Kevyn Adams as athletic director for the university."

🤔🤨

(And in keeping with a few miscues by readers in other threads, that is totally, I say, TOTALLY sarcastic fiction.)

[Mark Vader]

16 hours ago, sullim4 said:

 

100% agree - he's likely going to try to get something else.  That said... I think his smartest move would be to get into broadcasting and move away from coaching.  I don't see him getting a better gig.  The big time programs aren't going to hire him with his record in big games.

Perfect!

 

They could team him up with Booger McFarland in the studio. Two guys who know nothing about football.

[DrDawkinstein]

17 hours ago, That's No Moon said:

Going from #2 in the country with Championship aspirations to a place where it is very conceivable that they don't make a bowl game at all is a sure way to get fired $50M buyout or not.

 

Franklin is perfect for somewhere like Vanderbilt or North Carolina where 7 or 8 win seasons are success.  

 

 

As has been said a lot the past week, Sean McDermott is the James Franklin of the NFL.

 

 

I'll see myself out now.

15 hours ago, GaryPinC said:

Only one of his problems.  He is certainly one of the most interesting coaching personalities I've  ever seen IMO.  He's part sincere, part cheeseball, part family guy, part snake oil salesman.

 

  He created a welcoming environment for the players and their families but he also liked to brag when he got there that part of hiring assistant coaches was to make sure their wives were hot enough.

He figured if they could "recruit" and marry above their looks that they would do well with recruiting players too.

 

He always tightened his sphincter too much in big games over the years.  Sadly, I think the previous AD, Sandy Barbour, bought into his schtick too much and gave him the massive contract just before she retired a year later.  I thought it would be another year or two before they let him go so count me pleasantly surprised. 

 

 

Maybe he did hire good recruiting coaches.

 

The problem is, there is no recruiting anymore. You get players as good as your boosters are willing to pay in NIL money. That's it.

[GaryPinC]

16 hours ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

As has been said a lot the past week, Sean McDermott is the James Franklin of the NFL.

 

 

I'll see myself out now.

 

Maybe he did hire good recruiting coaches.

 

The problem is, there is no recruiting anymore. You get players as good as your boosters are willing to pay in NIL money. That's it.

Ok, then why are so many recruits decommitting PSU if it's only about NIL money?

[Sweats]

On 10/12/2025 at 5:01 PM, JimBob2232 said:

yeah.  50M is confirmed....but my understanding is that it is offset if he takes another job....which he probably will.

 

 

 

 

I wouldn't be so sure about that.........Franklin's got a massive ego, and he wouldn't settle for a program that he felt was beneath him and rest assured, any top programs have seen what he brings to the table and wouldn't go near him.

[SectionC3]

Now there's a place for Pegula to put McDermott if Pegula wants to can him at the end of the year and save a little scratch. 

[ArdmoreRyno]

Franklin was not any better than Mike Gundy as a head coach. Gundy, IMO, was a BETTER coach. 

 

 

[Low Positive]

7 hours ago, SectionC3 said:

Now there's a place for Pegula to put McDermott if Pegula wants to can him at the end of the year and save a little scratch. 

I know you're joking, but McDermott would have another NFL job about 5 minutes after he cleaned out his OBD office. The Raiders, Jets, Dolphins, Browns, and Panthers would be ringing non-stop, begging him to take the job. 

[JimBob2232]

4 hours ago, Low Positive said:

I know you're joking, but McDermott would have another NFL job about 5 minutes after he cleaned out his OBD office. The Raiders, Jets, Dolphins, Browns, and Panthers would be ringing non-stop, begging him to take the job. 

Yup.  Same with Franklin.  Some dont want to admit that.  But he will be coveted.  Maybe they can switch jobs

[GaryPinC]

12 hours ago, JimBob2232 said:

Yup.  Same with Franklin.  Some dont want to admit that.  But he will be coveted.  Maybe they can switch jobs

I'm hoping him and Cignetti swap schools!😄

[jamiezzz]

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/article/joe-brady-projected-leave-buffalo-153945410.html

[US Egg]

4 hours ago, jamiezzz said:

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/article/joe-brady-projected-leave-buffalo-153945410.html

He's not in the running according to oddsmakers: 

https://www.si.com/college/nebraska/football/most-oddsmakers-say-matt-rhule-is-favorite-to-become-next-penn-state-coach 

[JimBob2232]

11 hours ago, GaryPinC said:

I'm hoping him and Cignetti swap schools!😄

nope.

[JimBob2232]

Yeah -  Penn State fans are pretty much convinced it's going to be Matt Rhule.  It's just too logical.  PSU Alum.  Worked with AD when they were both at Temple and have a great relationship.  Would finally be able to connect the old guard to the new era.  Probably helps a lot with donors.  Most Penn Staters dont appear to love it though- but it sure does feel inevitable.  Even when asked about it, Rhule didn't  do the normal coach speak - he just said "I love Penn State..." I think the only way it DOESNT happen is if Nebraska doesn't finish strong.   That Nebraska game in State College at the end of November should be interesting.  

 

Other popular name is Eli Drinkwitz of Missouri (and the added craziness that he could be Beau Pribula BACK to Happy Valley).   Other than that...some speculation of making a run at Marcus Freeman or Kalen Deboer - though those both seem unlikely.  And then there is always Urban Meyer...who would probably jump at the opportunity - but time has probably passed him by.  The Oregon OC...Joe Brady...Manny Diaz...some other often tossed out names...but I gotta think its Rhule.

 

[zow2]

Yes, it's going to be Matt Rhule not Joe Brady.  That's a lock.  They are going to put their trust with someone who is extremely familiar with PSU and already is a good head coach in the B10.  I'm not a Penn State guy, but even I know this is not a proving ground for a coordinator in the NFL, who "might" be a good head coach?!... but we don't know for sure.

[JimBob2232]

2 hours ago, zow2 said:

Yes, it's going to be Matt Rhule not Joe Brady.  That's a lock.  They are going to put their trust with someone who is extremely familiar with PSU and already is a good head coach in the B10.  I'm not a Penn State guy, but even I know this is not a proving ground for a coordinator in the NFL, who "might" be a good head coach?!... but we don't know for sure.

What - like Bill O’Brien? 

[JimBob2232]

On 10/16/2025 at 8:11 PM, JimBob2232 said:

Yeah -  Penn State fans are pretty much convinced it's going to be Matt Rhule.  It's just too logical.  PSU Alum.  Worked with AD when they were both at Temple and have a great relationship.  Would finally be able to connect the old guard to the new era.  Probably helps a lot with donors.  Most Penn Staters dont appear to love it though- but it sure does feel inevitable.  

 

...well that changed quickly...

[That's No Moon]

On 10/12/2025 at 9:09 PM, Simon said:

 

You can do that for any team in college football and they would all look awful next to OSU (except maybe Bama).

Franklin's biggest problem was that he didn't yank Allar off the field two years ago.

These are the offense skill players from each of the college football finalists that made some sort of reasonable impact in the NFL, compared to the equivalent Penn State players each year. As we got more recent I made some judgement calls such as including Ja'lynn Polk (based on age) but excluding John Metchie or including guys like Wayne Gallman or Clyde Edwards-Helaire who did play several years in the league with some level of production (as opposed to Metchie was did basically nothing).  We can nit-pick the list. The point is that with very few exceptions the teams in the Final had MUCH more NFL level offensive skill than Penn State did.  Maybe the 2016 team had more eventual NFL skill players than Clemson did, but the gap at QB was so huge between Deshaun Watson and Trace McSorley that it didn't matter.  This doesn't even touch OL or defense which ignores Clemson having Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins at the same time, and all the ridiculous talent Alabama and UGA have turned out on that side of the ball over the years.

 

Teams won without amazing NFL QBs. Nobody won without NFL level skill players.

 

Bottom line. Franklin didn't recruit well enough to take Penn State where it wants to go.  He never got an NFL caliber QB (I'm sorry, Drew Allar is terrible).  Outside of Godwin, he never really had an impact NFL level WR. He had a couple TEs but TEs are generally complementary pieces. He had Saquon Barkley, sure. Look what Alabama had in Barkley's last season (2017). Recruiting is and was the name of the game.  Now with the portal and NIL money and massive conference money flowing in it's more important than ever and Franklin was never good enough.  

 

2014 Ohio State v Oregon

Ohio State - Michael Thomas, Zeke Elliott, Curtis Samuel

Oregon - Marcus Mariota (?)

Penn State - Chris Godwin, Jesse James, Mike Gesicki

 

2015 Alabama v. Clemson

Alabama - Calvin Ridley, OJ Howard, Derrick Henry, Kenyan Drake, Damien Harris

Clemson - Deshaun Watson, Hunter Renfrow, Ray-Ray McCloud, Wayne Gallman

Penn State - Chris Godwin, Saquon Barkley, Mike Gesicki

 

2016 Alabama v. Clemson

Alabama - Calvin Ridley, Josh Jacobs, OJ Howard, Damien Harris, Jalen Hurts

Clemson - Deshaun Watson, Mike Williams. Ray-Ray McLoud, Hunter Renfrow, Wayne Gallman

Penn State - Chris Godwin, Saquon Barkley, Mike Gesicki, Miles Sanders

 

2017 Alabama v. Georgia

Alabama - Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, Damien Harris, Najee Harris, Josh Jacobs, Calvin Ridley, Jerry Jeudy, Devonta Smith, Irv Smith, Henry Ruggs

Georgia - Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, DeAndre Swift, Mecole Hardman

Penn State - Saquon Barkley, Mike Gesicki, Miles Sanders

 

2018 Alabama v. Clemson

Clemson - Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne, Tee Higgins

Alabama - Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, Henry Ruggs, Jerry Jeudy, Jaylen Waddle, Josh Jacobs, Brian Robinson, Jr., Najee Harris, Henry Ruggs

Penn State - Pat Freiremuth, Miles Sanders, Jahan Dotson

 

2019 LSU v. Clemson

LSU - Joe Burrow, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase

Clemson - Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne, Tee Higgins

Penn State - Pat Freiremuth, Jahan Dotson

 

2020 Alabama v. Ohio State

Alabama - Bryce Young, Mac Jones, Brian Robinson, Jr., Najee Harris, Jaylen Waddle, Devonta Smith

Ohio State - Trey Sermon, Justin Fields, Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jaxson Smith-Njigba, CJ Stroud

Penn State - Pat Freiremuth, Jahan Dotson

 

2021 Georgia v. Alabama

Georgia - James Cook, Ladd McConkey, Brock Bowers, Adonai Mitchell, Darnell Washington, George Pickens

Alabama - Brian Robinson, Jr., Jameson Williams, Bryce Young

Penn State - Jahan Dotson

 

2022 Georgia v. TCU

Georgia - Ladd McConkey, Brock Bowers, Adonai Mitchell, Darnell Washington

TCU - Kendre Miller, Emari Demercado, Quentin Johnston

Penn State - Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen, Tyler Warren

 

2023 Michigan v. Washington

Michigan - JJ McCarthy, Blake Corum, Roman Wilson, Colston Loveland

Washington - Michael Penix, Jr., Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, Ja'lynn Polk

Penn State - Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen, Tyler Warren

 

2024 Ohio State v. Notre Dame

Ohio State - Quinshon Judkins, TreyVeon Henderson, Emeka Egbuka, Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate

Notre Dame - Jeremiyah Love, Mitchell Evans, Jordan Faison

Penn State - Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen, Tyler Warren