Penn State canned longtime football coach James Franklin after the Nittany Lions suffered their third straight defeat following a 3-0 start to the season.
Franklin is 53 years old and was in the midst of his 12th year in Happy Valley. However, his firing came while he had $49 million remaining on his contract. Penn State opened the year’s play as the preseason No. 2 team in the country after falling to Notre Dame in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff in January.
Rumors Continue to Swirl on Adidas’ Involvement in James Franklin Firing
Franklin’s buyout is the second-largest in college football history, behind Texas A&M’s, owing former head coach Jimbo Fisher over $76 million when the Aggies fired him back in November 2023. Additionally, Franklin’s buyout is also only the third in college football history to surpass the $20 million threshold for a fired coach.
Reports have also suggested that Penn State’s switch from Nike to Adidas under a new 10-year deal starting in 2026 could have influenced Franklin’s termination.
On Sunday’s edition of The Colin Cowherd Podcast, both Colin Cowherd and co-host John Middlekauff discussed this developing matter.
“They are speculating online the Adidas bought out James Franklin,” said Cowherd.
The Adidas partnership is rumored to be worth around $300 million.
“These boosters, or whoever was paying all of this money is not going to keep the money flowing if you do not known,” co-host John Middlekauff said. “You will get cut-off. I actually kind of believe the Adidas thing. Even if you were at USC or Notre Dame, who could just find $50 million? Like even if you’ve got five people, that means $10 million each … That’s liquid cash.”
Despite his poor record against top 10 opponents, Franklin was still considered one of the more decorated coaches in the Big Ten and across college football. Midway through his 12th season, Franklin was 104-45, coming off the previously mentioned College Football Playoff semifinal appearance last year.
Perhaps it is for this reason that Cowherd said Franklin still has a future in the sport, perhaps as a broadcaster.
“James Franklin is a good-looking guy with high energy. I think he’ll go into broadcasting and probably be a great fit,” Cowherd said. “He’s kind of a magnetic guy. Again, I understand firing him. I think it’s really dangerous to fire a coach this early.”
Overall, it is very plausible that the reports surrounding Adidas and their involvement in this latest Penn State hiring change could have some truth to it. Paying $50 million to fire a coach, only having to hire another later, won’t come cheap.
Associate coach Terry Smith will serve as the Nittany Lions’ interim head coach for the rest of the season.
