Penn State AD Pat Kraft Says James Franklin’s Record in Big Games Played Role in Firing
Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft acknowledged that James Franklin’s record in big games played a role in the school parting ways with its 12th-year head coach.
"I'm here to win a national championship," Kraft told reporters. "And I believe our fans deserve that."
With high expectations in 2025, Penn State opened the season with wins over Nevada, Florida International, and Villanova but lost to Oregon in overtime, 30-24.
- The defeat dropped Franklin to 4-21 against AP top-10 opponents.
- He had a 1-18 mark against top-10 Big Ten teams in conference matchups.
According to ESPN Research, Franklin's .160 winning percentage in those games is tied for the third-worst by a coach at a single school since the poll era began in 1936.
Author's summary: Penn State fires coach James Franklin due to poor record.