James Franklin’s Complicated Penn State Legacy: From Restoring Pride to an Unfinished Quest
Sunday, Penn State made one of the most shocking moves of the college football season.
The Nittany Lions fired 12-year Head Coach James Franklin. In the midst of a rocky 3-3 start to the year, Athletic Director Pat Kraft had seen enough.
This move pleased many Nittany Lion fans. There is a large part of the fanbase that was fed up with Franklin’s tenure in Happy Valley.
Time will be the ultimate test on whether or not Penn State made the right move in firing Franklin.
While there is a lengthy list of potential candidates capable of moving the needle, and possibly lifting Penn State across the finish line into legitimate national championship contention, it remains to be seen if Kraft’s $56 bet pays off.
But, regardless of what you think about Franklin, objectively, he achieved a lot in his time at Penn State.
James Franklin’s Penn State Legacy: From Dark Ages to Glory
Franklin took over in State College, just three years after the Penn State Football scandal broke.
After a mediocre first two seasons at Penn State, Franklin ignited the spark that forever changed the Penn State Football program in 2016. Penn State beat Ohio State and went on to win the Big Ten Championship, narrowly missing the College Football Playoff.
In a lot of ways, how quickly James Franklin turned the Nittany Lions around, may have set a new standard for himself. Since the 2016 season, James Franklin has put together five 10+ win seasons in State College. Penn State rose back to National prominence way faster than anyone could have imagined.
That is all because of James Franklin. He deserves to be celebrated for how quickly he turned Penn State around.
🦁 Love Penn State Football?
Get insider news, recruiting updates, and game analysis delivered straight to your inbox — FREE.
Join the NittanyCentral Newsletter ➜ By Clicking Here
The Last 3 Years
From 2022 to now, James Franklin held a 37-10 record.
While it is true, he has never beaten Oregon or and it’s been since 2016 since his Lions conquered Ohio State, he still accomplished a lot.
Winning a Rose Bowl, two College Football Playoff games, appearing in a Big Ten Championship, and simply winning a lot of football games.
Buy The Newest Penn State Gear From Fanatics | Shop Penn State Merchandise on Amazon
Isn’t it crazy to think that Penn State was one drive away from playing for a National Championship just nine short months ago?
There aren’t many coaches out there that have had the success that James Franklin has had in the past 3 seasons.
While James Franklin surely had flaws, I believe Penn State fans truly need to appreciate all that he has done for Penn State and how much success he has had. James Franklin deserves his flowers.
A note to our readers; If you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may receive a commission
Purdy was born and raised in central Ohio and served for four years writing for his high school's newsletter. Currently studying Biblical Studies at Lancaster Bible College in Pennsylvania, Ian has been a lifelong Nittany Lion fan.
- James Franklin’s Complicated Penn State Legacy: From Restoring Pride to an Unfinished Quest - October 13, 2025
- BREAKING: Penn State Fires James Franklin - October 12, 2025
- Can James Franklin Save Penn State Football’s Season … or Is This the Beginning of the End? - October 8, 2025