Penn State fires coach James Franklin, Nittany Lions play at Iowa Saturday

AUTO GROUP. ALL OFF SEASON. WE HEARD OUT OF MADISON, WISCONSIN. OH, WE DID 40 PUSH UPS EVERY DAY BECAUSE WE GAVE UP 42 POINTS TO IOWA LAST YEAR. WELL, WHATEVER HAPPENED TONIGHT IN MADISON WAS THE VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF PUTTING YOUR FOOT IN YOUR MOUTH. AND IT MIGHT HAVE DELIVERED LUKE FICKELL A SEVERANCE PACKAGE. IOWA ON THE ROAD AT WISCONSIN HEARTLAND TROPHY GAME. HAWKEYES LOOKING FOR THEIR FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN IN THIS SERIES. AND THEY WERE MAKING LIFE MISERABLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL. HUNTER SIMMONS BALL TIPPED BIG MAN PICKED BY BRYCE HAWTHORNE, FIRST EVER PICK IN HIS LIFE. HE TOLD OUR SHANNON EARHART AFTER THE GAME. AND IT SETS UP THE OFFENSE. KAMARI MOULTON WALKS IN. THEY WERE UP TEN. NOTHING IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE. THEN WE HAD MORE BIG MEN WREAKING HAVOC. SIMMONS LOOKING RIGHT AND HE JUST THROWS IT RIGHT TO AARON GRAVES. AND AARON GRAVES HAS GREEN. AND THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A DREAM COME TRUE. OH BUT HE’S DOWN AT THE TWO. NO PICK SIX FOR THE SOUTHEAST VALLEY ALUM. AND INSTEAD MARK GRONOWSKI SAYS HEY LET THE OFFENSE DO THE SCORING. TUSH PUSH. IT’S 17 NOTHING. IOWA LEAD 20 TO NOTHING AT THE HALF, FORCING THREE FIRST HALF TURNOVERS. THEY ONLY ALLOWED 117 YARDS. THEY WERE IN TOTAL CONTROL. THIRD QUARTER KEEP THE FOOT ON THE GAS WHY DON’T YOU XAVIER WILLIAMS BACK FROM INJURY, FINDS PAYDIRT 29 YARDS TO THE END ZONE. THAT WAS HIS FIRST OF TWO TOUCHDOWNS ON THE NIGHT. AND THEN JUMP AROUND. THIS WAS HOW DO WE PUT IT A SAD JUMP AROUND. NOT FOR HAWKEYE FANS WHO WERE IN ATTENDANCE. HAWKEYES GO INTO CAMP RANDALL. THEY DOMINATE FROM THE WORD GO 37 TO NOTHING. IT IS THE FIRST SHUTOUT WIN AT THAT STADIUM SINCE 1929, A FOUR GAME WINNING STREAK OVER THE BADGERS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE OH 2 TO 0 SIX. SHANNON EARHART AND MADISON SHANNON. I SAID IT WAS GOING TO BE A -- KICKING. I TOLD YOU. MARK GRONOWSKI SAID IT BEST TO JEFF. THEY SIMPLY LAID IT ON THEM. THEY DID NOT TAKE THEIR FOOT OFF THE GAS. THEY SCORED 17 POINTS IN THE FIRST QUARTER. THEY STARTED FAST. THEY DID NOT LET IT GO. THE PLAYERS SAID AFTER THE GAME THAT THE MOMENTUM CHANGER WAS THOSE BACK TO BACK INTERCEPTIONS BY THE D LINEMAN. T.J. HALL TOLD US AFTER THE GAME THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME NEW DOUGHBOYS, AS THAT’S WHAT THE DEFENSIVE BACKS CALL EACH OTHER BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY GET THOSE INTERCEPTIONS AND THEY MAKE MONEY. BUT HEY, TWO D LINEMEN TO GET INTERCEPTIONS IN ONE GAME. THE DEFENSIVE BACK SAID, OH, WE’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE. OFFENSIVELY, IT WAS THE RUN GAME. THEY TURNED ON THE JETS AGAINST A BAD WISCONSIN DEFENSE. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET IT GOING EARLY, JUST LIKE THE DEFENSE IT WAS SPEARHEADED BY XAVIER WILLIAMS AND KAMARI MOULTON. THEY RAN SO WELL AGAINST THE SIXTH BEST RUSH DEFENSE IN THE COUNTRY. THEY RAN FOR OVER 200 YARDS, AVERAGING 5.8 YARDS PER CARRY. THAT’S INSANE. NUMBERS. MARK GRONOWSKI I ASKED HIM AFTER THE GAME HOW HE FELT IF THERE WERE LIMITATIONS. HE SAID THERE WERE NO LIMITATIONS AT ALL. THIS IS THE BEST THAT I HAVE FELT. OBVIOUSLY THERE WERE NOT A LOT OF DESIGNED QUARTERBACK RUNS, AND HE SAID THAT’S BECAUSE HE’S TRYING TO MAKE HIMSELF LAST THE REST OF THE SEASON. IT PAID OFF. YOU LET THE RUNNING BACKS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS. NOW AFTER THE GAME, 37 POINTS, A TOTAL SHUTOUT. WE COULD HEAR IN THE MEDIA ROOM JUMP AROUND BEING PLAYED ON THE SPEAKER. THEY WERE BLASTING IT. WE ALL KIND OF CHUCKLED BECAUSE IT WAS HILARIOUS, KIND OF PATRONIZING TO WISCONSIN AS THEY DO DO THAT THIRD QUARTER THING. BUT WHAT I FOUND SO FUNNY IS THAT THEY HAD THIS SPRAY CHEESE, JEFF, SPRAYING IT INTO THEIR MOUTHS BECAUSE IT IS A LAND DAIRY, AND THEY DID IT JUST FOR FUN. THEY SAID, WHY NOT? LET’S SEE IT. I’VE NEVER DONE THIS IN MY LIFE. LET’S SEE IT. FOR YOUR LAST SHOW, JEFF. LET’S SEE IT. OH, GROSS. JEFF, THAT’S FOR YOU. I’M BRINGING THIS BACK FOR YOU. LIVE IN MADISON FOR JEFF’S FINAL SHOW. WE’LL MISS YOU, BUDDY. WE LOVE YOU. AND IT WON’T BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU. BUT THIS IS YOUR GOING AWAY PRESENT. JUST SO YOU KNOW. OH. THANK YOU.

Updated: 9:22 AM CDT Oct 13, 2025

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Penn State fires coach James Franklin, Nittany Lions play at Iowa Saturday

Updated: 9:22 AM CDT Oct 13, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

James Franklin is out at Penn State.The school fired the longtime head coach on Sunday, less than 24 hours after a 22-21 home loss to Northwestern all but ended whatever remote chance the preseason No. 2 team had of reaching the College Football Playoff.Terry Smith will serve as the interim head coach for the rest of the season for the Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten), who began the year with hopes of winning the national title only to have those hopes evaporate by early October with three consecutive losses, each one more stinging than the last.Related video above: Iowa football completes shutout victory at WisconsinPenn State, which reached the CFP semifinals 10 months ago, fell at home to Oregon in overtime in late September. A road loss at previously winless UCLA followed. The final straw came on Saturday at Beaver Stadium, where the Nittany Lions let Northwestern escape with a victory and lost quarterback Drew Allar to injury for the rest of the season.Franklin went 104-45 during his 11-plus seasons at Penn State. Yet the Nittany Lions often stumbled against top-tier opponents, going 4-21 against teams ranked in the top 10 during his tenure.Hired in 2014 in the wake of Bill O'Brien's departure for the NFL, Franklin inherited a team still feeling the effects of unprecedented NCAA sanctions in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal.Armed with relentless optimism and an ability to recruit, Franklin's program regularly churned out NFL-level talent, from Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley to Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons. Franklin guided the Nittany Lions to the 2016 Big Ten title and a seemingly permanent spot in the rankings.There was hope this fall might be the one when Penn State would finally break through and win its third national championship and first since 1986. Yet after three easy wins during a light nonconference schedule, the Nittany Lions crumbled.Athletic director Pat Kraft said the school owes Franklin — who is due nearly $50 million in a buyout — an "enormous amount of gratitude" for leading the Nittany Lions back to relevance but felt it was time to make a change."We hold our athletics programs to the highest of standards, and we believe this is the right moment for new leadership at the helm of our football program to advance us toward Big Ten and national championships," Kraft said.Smith now will be tasked with trying to stop the bleeding on what has become a disastrous season. He will have his work cut out for him: Penn State's next three games are at Iowa on Saturday, at No. 1 Ohio State on Nov. 1 and home against No. 3 Indiana on Nov. 8.The matchups with the Buckeyes and Hoosiers were expected to be a chance for the Nittany Lions to bolster their CFP credentials. In the span of a handful of weeks, Penn State will instead find itself in the role of spoiler.» Subscribe to ��vlog's YouTube page» Download the free ��vlog app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayPenn State QB Drew Allar out for season with an injury Drew Allar came back to Penn State for his senior season determined to lead the Nittany Lions to a national championship.Now, with hopes gone for winning their first NCAA football title since 1986 after a third straight loss, the strong-armed quarterback will have to watch from the sideline the rest of the way.Allar suffered an apparent leg injury on a third-down play late in Penn State's 22-21 loss to Northwestern on Saturday. He limped off the field with help, was replaced by backup Ethan Grunkemeyer and was ruled out for the rest of the season."Drew will be done for the year," Penn State coach James Franklin said Saturday. Franklin was fired Sunday.Allar's injury — not specified by the team — capped a three-week stretch in which the Nittany Lions fell from No. 2 in the AP Top 25 after losing in overtime at home to No. 3 Oregon, getting pounded by a previously winless UCLA team last week and being outplayed by Northwestern in front of another restless crowd at Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten), will have to find some answers and now turn to Grunkemeyer to try to lead them to a bowl game.They have to play at Iowa this week and still have trips to No. 1 Ohio State and Michigan State. A home game against No. 7 Indiana looms, too.Allar ends his Penn State career fourth on the school's career passing yardage list with 7,265 yards on 620 for 982 passing with 61 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) —

James Franklin is out at Penn State.

The school fired the longtime head coach on Sunday, less than 24 hours after a 22-21 home loss to Northwestern all but ended whatever remote chance the preseason No. 2 team had of reaching the College Football Playoff.

Terry Smith will serve as the interim head coach for the rest of the season for the Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten), who began the year with hopes of winning the national title only to have those hopes evaporate by early October with three consecutive losses, each one more stinging than the last.

Related video above: Iowa football completes shutout victory at Wisconsin

Penn State, which reached the CFP semifinals 10 months ago, fell at home to Oregon in overtime in late September. A road loss at previously winless UCLA followed. The final straw came on Saturday at Beaver Stadium, where the Nittany Lions let Northwestern escape with a victory and lost quarterback Drew Allar to injury for the rest of the season.

Franklin went 104-45 during his 11-plus seasons at Penn State. Yet the Nittany Lions often stumbled against top-tier opponents, going 4-21 against teams ranked in the top 10 during his tenure.

Hired in 2014 in the wake of Bill O'Brien's departure for the NFL, Franklin inherited a team still feeling the effects of unprecedented NCAA sanctions in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

Armed with relentless optimism and an ability to recruit, Franklin's program regularly churned out NFL-level talent, from Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley to Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons. Franklin guided the Nittany Lions to the 2016 Big Ten title and a seemingly permanent spot in the rankings.

There was hope this fall might be the one when Penn State would finally break through and win its third national championship and first since 1986. Yet after three easy wins during a light nonconference schedule, the Nittany Lions crumbled.

Athletic director Pat Kraft said the school owes Franklin — who is due nearly $50 million in a buyout — an "enormous amount of gratitude" for leading the Nittany Lions back to relevance but felt it was time to make a change.

"We hold our athletics programs to the highest of standards, and we believe this is the right moment for new leadership at the helm of our football program to advance us toward Big Ten and national championships," Kraft said.

Smith now will be tasked with trying to stop the bleeding on what has become a disastrous season. He will have his work cut out for him: Penn State's next three games are at Iowa on Saturday, at No. 1 Ohio State on Nov. 1 and home against No. 3 Indiana on Nov. 8.

The matchups with the Buckeyes and Hoosiers were expected to be a chance for the Nittany Lions to bolster their CFP credentials. In the span of a handful of weeks, Penn State will instead find itself in the role of spoiler.

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Penn State QB Drew Allar out for season with an injury

Drew Allar came back to Penn State for his senior season determined to lead the Nittany Lions to a national championship.

Now, with hopes gone for winning their first NCAA football title since 1986 after a third straight loss, the strong-armed quarterback will have to watch from the sideline the rest of the way.

Allar suffered an apparent leg injury on a third-down play late in Penn State's 22-21 loss to Northwestern on Saturday. He limped off the field with help, was replaced by backup Ethan Grunkemeyer and was ruled out for the rest of the season.

"Drew will be done for the year," Penn State coach James Franklin said Saturday. Franklin was fired Sunday.

Allar's injury — not specified by the team — capped a three-week stretch in which the Nittany Lions fell from No. 2 in the AP Top 25 after losing in overtime at home to No. 3 Oregon, getting pounded by a previously winless UCLA team last week and being outplayed by Northwestern in front of another restless crowd at Beaver Stadium.

The Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten), will have to find some answers and now turn to Grunkemeyer to try to lead them to a bowl game.

They have to play at Iowa this week and still have trips to No. 1 Ohio State and Michigan State. A home game against No. 7 Indiana looms, too.

Allar ends his Penn State career fourth on the school's career passing yardage list with 7,265 yards on 620 for 982 passing with 61 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

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Penn State fires coach James Franklin, Nittany Lions play at Iowa Saturday

Penn State QB Drew Allar out for season with an injury

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