Who won the James Franklin-Penn State breakup? One year later, there are no winners

When Penn State decided to fire James Franklin on Oct. 12, 2025, it did so to send a message. After three straight losses to Big Ten opponents, a Nittany Lions squad that was seemingly set up for success had underperformed to the point that athletic director Pat Kraft wanted to step in and steer the football program in a new direction. It was an emotional decision to part ways with a coach in Franklin who had led Penn State to 104 wins and five top-10 finishes across a 12-year tenure.