Paul Finebaum places James Franklin on hot seat: ‘Penn State can do better’
By David Wasson
Published:
Penn State traveled to Pasadena on Saturday to take on UCLA as more than 3-touchdown favorites but exited with a 42-37 loss to the previously winless Bruins – a second straight setback that has ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum placing Nittany Lions coach James Franklin firmly on the hot seat.
“The good news for James Franklin is that it doesn’t affect his record against top-10 teams, so he caught a break on that front,” Finebaum said Sunday on The Matt Barrie Show. “The bad news is that while it’s not statistically the worst loss of all time, I think Pete Carroll and USC losing to Jim Harbaugh and Stanford 15 or 20 years ago goes down, but it feels like the worst loss I have ever seen.
“I think, for James Franklin, it is going to haunt him. Because what does he have to do now – run the straight of Indiana and Ohio State? What reason would any person have to think he could beat Ohio State in Columbus now?”
Finebaum continued the hot take by suggesting that the Nittany Lions should move on from Franklin despite a buyout that is reportedly $56 million for an immediate dismissal and $48 million if athletic director Pat Kraft waits until Jan. 1, 2026.
“The bigger issue for James Franklin keeping his job,” Finebaum said. “I know what his buyout is and what his record is, but at some point you have to determine ‘Can we do better?’ And I’m telling you right now Penn State can do better than James Franklin.
“It feels like the gas is leaking all over the runway. That game (Saturday) changed the narrative from ‘He can’t win the big one’ to ‘Now he can’t win the little one either’.”
Franklin’s Nittany Lions will look to get back on track against Northwestern in Week 7.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
