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Penn State University has fired head coach James Franklin after a disappointing start to the 2025 football season. Franklin, who led the team for over 11 years, was dismissed following a series of losses to Oregon, UCLA, and Northwestern, which dashed the team's championship hopes. The decision comes as Penn State, once ranked second in the AP Top 25 preseason poll, faced mounting pressure to perform at a national level.
Terry Smith, a former Penn State wide receiver and long-time member of the coaching staff, has been named interim head coach. Smith, who joined the program in 2014 and served as the associate head coach, is tasked with stabilizing the team during this transition period. He has a strong background in recruiting, having helped bring in 12 consecutive top-25 recruiting classes and developed several NFL-caliber cornerbacks.
The search for Franklin's permanent replacement is underway, with several candidates emerging as potential hires. Among the top contenders are Nebraska coach Matt Rhule, a Penn State alum with a successful track record at Baylor and Temple, and Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, who has transformed Indiana into a national contender. Both coaches are seen as strong candidates to lead Penn State back to prominence.
As the team navigates this coaching change, Penn State's athletic director, Patrick Kraft, is under pressure to make a strategic hire that will position the Nittany Lions for future success. The program's significant investments in facilities and recruiting resources underscore its commitment to competing at the highest level.