James Franklin has been one of the most successful college football coaches in the country since taking over at Penn State in 2014. Still, he’s often labeled as a coach who can’t win the big games for one reason or another.
With a Week 5 matchup against No. 6 Oregon looming, No. 3 Nittany Lions fans might start getting restless if the team loses. So, if Penn State wanted to move on from Franklin, how much would it cost the program?
A Look at James Franklin’s Penn State Buyout
Franklin has been at the helm of the Nittany Lions for over a decade, and he’s done it at a high level. He’s compiled a 104-42 record, appeared in 12 bowl games, winning six, and led Penn State to its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance in 2024.
Despite this success, there’s a narrative that Franklin can’t win the big games. Since taking over at Penn State, he has a 16-28 record against the top 25 teams and a 4-20 record against the Top 10 teams.
His success is often overlooked because of his performance in the games that matter most, and Franklin needs that to change. Heading into 2025, his Nittany Lions squad was his most hyped yet, entering the year as the AP preseason No. 2 team.
With serious national title aspirations and the roster to do it, Penn State and Franklin must win the big games this season. That starts this weekend when the No. 3-ranked Nittany Lions host the No. 6-ranked Oregon Ducks in the annual “whiteout” game.
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While Franklin likely won’t lose his job with a loss to Oregon, his seat could get hotter. It would be a surprising move if Penn State decided to move on from him this season, but if they did, here’s a look at what it would cost.
In 2021, Penn State extended Franklin on a 10-year, $85 million contract, keeping him as the team’s head coach through 2031. Entering the 2025 season, his estimated buyout was $54 million, the ninth-largest in the country.
It would be costly for Penn State to fire Franklin, and given his overall track record, it’s highly unlikely they would do so within the next five seasons unless the program experiences a major collapse.
While Franklin hasn’t been able to win the big games at Penn State yet, he’s led the team to three straight seasons with double-digit wins and consistently kept them in contention in the Big Ten.
Franklin has a chance to change the narrative about him this season, starting today, September 27, as the No. 3 Nittany Lions face No. 6 Oregon. The matchup is kicking off at 7:30 p.m. ET with coverage on NBC.
