James Franklin did remarkable work in rebuilding the Penn State football program but falling short of being elite cost him his job.

College football coach buyouts are notoriously absurd, and James Franklin’s was no different. What should PSU do about his replacement?

TROY, Pa. — A former Ohio State and Penn State football player has been accused of being under the influence of alcohol when the ATV he was operating in May hit a deer in Bradford County, killing his girlfriend.

Penn State is embarking one of the most fascinating coaching searches of the past few years after paying coach James Franklin more than $50 million in buyout money for the right to fire him. However, there's some belief around college football that the Nittany Lions already have their target: Matt Rhule.

Drew Allar walked into a quiet Lasch Building conference room with a smile and a whole lot of optimism. It was April 2024, and the face of Penn State’s program was eagerly awaiting his second season as starting quarterback. Allar believed Penn State was bound for something special — and that he and James Franklin would accomplish it together.

There is a national championship contender in the Big Ten not named Ohio State or Oregon. It’s just not the team everyone assumed it would be.

The Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten) have now lost three games in a row following a 3-0 start to the season. Penn State was ranked No. 2 in the country as recently as the Sept. 21 US LBM Coaches Poll. However, following a loss to No. 5 Oregon, it has lost back-to-back games to unranked UCLA and Northwestern (4-2, 2-1).

Needing a fourth-quarter defensive stop, the Nittany Lions instead gave up a 75-yard touchdown drive to the Wildcats.