Sports

James Franklin Will Be Paid $50 Million To Not Coach As Penn State Confirms Recruits’ Concerns

#Penn State Nittany Lions
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James Franklin at the Penn State spring game

© Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images


James Franklin’s future with Penn State football is becoming more unclear by the minute. The Nittany Lions’ recruiting has taken an immediate hit.

Top prospects are backing off their Penn State pledges as the university’s brass navigates its options. Much of the discussion centers around a massive buyout.

Franklin signed a 10-year extension worth $85 million in 2021. The timing of that deal was a bit head scratching to some.

The team was fresh off a 7-6 season in which it finished under .500 in Big Ten play for a second consecutive campaign. Still, it locked Franklin in through 2031.

Initially, it appeared the correct decision as the Nittany Lions ripped off three straight 10+ win seasons from 2022-24, including finishing a game away from the national title last year. Things have begun to unravel in 2025.

Penn State football has not met expectations.

After starting the year 3-0, the Nittany Lions have dropped their first three conference games. The two most recent losses came as 20-point favorites vs. UCLA and Northwestern.

Penn State entered the year with national title hopes. Those goals are now unattainable. James Franklin is taking the heat.

He’s been criticized in the past for an inability to win the “big game.” Now, he’s struggling to beat overmatched opponents, too.

With frustrations growing, talks about the future have started.

One thing potentially holding Penn State back is a $56 million buyout owed to Franklin should he be fired before the end of the year. The number dips to $48 million on December 1.

“With the losses to UCLA and Northwestern, Penn State has yet to beat a Power Four team this season,” said Pete Nakos of On3 Sports. “With a $48 million buyout on Dec. 1, sources have told On3 that there are legitimate conversations being held about Franklin’s future with the Nittany Lions.”

National college football writer Stewart Mandel of The Athletic has spoken on the situation, too. He does not believe the buyout will hinder Penn State’s decision to move on.

“No need for the ‘will they or won’t they pay’ dance at this point,” Mandel wrote. “James Franklin is done. Penn State fans made that abundantly clear Saturday by arriving uncharacteristically late to the game and booing their heads off when the game ended.

“There’s no winning them back. Come end of season, the school and its 12th-year coach will negotiate some sort of reduced buyout (from $48 million). The only question now is how many more games will the nation’s preseason No. 2 team lose?”

The terms of the $85 million extension now appear to be backfiring. Administration is scrambling to negotiate an out. While the school has yet to make an official decision, the uncertainty is already making an impact.

Penn State recruits react to James Franklin drama.

Kemon Spell is the No. 1 ranked running back in the nation. He committed to play for the Nittany Lions in August of last year. He recently spoke on his recruitment amid Penn State’s struggles.

“I’m not 100% with Penn State anymore,” he said. “I will be taking visits.”

He’s not the only notable player to back off his pledge. Four-star classmate Khalil Taylor announced his decommitment from the program earlier in the week.

All signs point to a coaching change in Happy Valley. Recruits do not believe James Franklin will be on the sidelines come 2026.

If the school does pull the plug, it will be forced to open up the checkbook as a result of its own questionable decision making.

Update: James Franklin has been fired.

Pete Thamel of ESPN reports that James Franklin has been fired. The school will owe him nearly $50 million.

Thamel says that this is the second-largest buyout on record in college football history.