James Franklin contract and buyout with Penn State could lead to shocking solution to their current mess
James Franklin and Penn State might benefit from mutually parting ways because everyone knows it’s time
Penn State is 3-3, losing three straight to Oregon, UCLA, and now somehow Northwestern (22-21 on Saturday). Drew Allar is out for the year with an injury. Penn State still has to play Iowa, Ohio State, Indiana, Michigan State, Nebraska, and Rutgers, so there is a real chance the Nittany Lions go from College Football Playoff contender to failing to even make a bowl game this season.
This is inexcusable, indefensible, terrible. There aren’t enough negative words to describe how this season has already played out for the Penn State Nittany Lions and it’s only half over. The problem is there isn’t any quick fix for all the issues either, and James Franklin’s buyout is currently sitting well over $50 million dollars (impossible to justify regardless of the anger from fans and boosters).
What to do? Are there any possible solutions to handling Franklin and fixing the program? One national analyst already hinted at one option that would surely shock the college football world prior to this week’s loss. It felt impossible earlier this week, but now it makes way too much sense.
James Franklin and Penn State should negotiate mutual parting of ways
Josh Pate, the host of the most popular college football show in the world right now, was already (like many of us) blown away by Penn State’s colossal failure against UCLA. So much so that he spent a good portion of his Week 7 Prediction Show last week to talk through a shocking solution to the James Franklin buyout and disdain from the fan base. Now that Franklin has lost three in a row, including two games where Penn State was a 20+ point favorite, there’s no point in continuing the relationship.
Not just from Penn State’s side of things, but also perhaps from Franklin’s point of view himself. Pate asked himself how he would feel if he were James Franklin right now (and again this was before the egregious loss to Northwestern), and this is where he landed:
“How would I feel if I were James Franklin? Here’s how I would feel: bad…2026 isn’t going to be any better, and I (Josh Pate speaking as James Franklin) know that even better than the outsiders because I know my program. So I’ve got to ask myself, have we (Franklin and Penn State) soured on each other? I know the outside world may have soured on me, but if I’m James Franklin, I know how I feel about the outside world. There could be a situation where I’m looking around and I’m saying, you know what, I’ve done everything I know to do. It hasn’t turned out like I wanted to, but it’s not for lack of effort. I’ve put my heart and soul into this. I’ve tried as hard as I can. I’ve done everything I know to do. Did it work out this year? It didn’t, but it’s not because of oversight. It’s not because of lack of effort.
“So, if you guys think you can do better, I don’t need this anymore. Let’s negotiate and reduce this buyout and put me on a board of whatever and get me vested in whatever to offset the cost and I’ll be good financially and then I’ll step away for a couple of years.”
This solution might sound impossible at first, but Franklin has truly nothing to accomplish this season, and no hopes in reaching anything close to the outcome he (and the entire fanbase) wanted. This was the “prove-it” year for Franklin. This was the year Penn State was supposed to finally make their push, prove the doubters wrong, and beat the best teams in the country, possibly winning a national title.
That’s no longer possible. 2026 isn’t going to be any better. If Franklin has grown tired of all the doubts, tired of the hate, tired of fighting to win it all for a program that doesn’t quite invest to that level, why not agree to mutually part ways?
He could negotiate a monetary deal where he ends up set for life (and much more) and he either gets a fresh start somewhere else–because plenty of programs would take him–or he can just take a break from it all for a couple of years. Travel the country. Learn from other coaches, programs, the best of the best. Then when he’s ready, jump back in.
Following the game, Franklin just completely looked defeated. He looked angry. He looked lost, standing on the field as obnoxious cameramen swarmed him to take pictures to be used in hit pieces over the next several weeks.
After the game, Franklin was asked directly if he still wants to be the head coach at Penn State. He completely ignored the question, diverting focus to his players and the fans. Does that mean he’s considering a mutual parting of ways? Not necessarily, but he had the prime opportunity to double down on his commitment to Penn State and did not (as you can see in post below).
It’s time to move on, for everyone involved. If Franklin senses that, admits that, and recognizes he could be better off elsewhere, Penn State might just have a surprising solution to his buyout on their hands here soon.
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