James Franklin shares honest feelings on Penn State exit

James Franklin’s 11-year tenure at Penn State was an enigmatic one. He raised the Nittany Lions ’ floor just a few years after Joe Paterno’s exit, leading them to six double-digit win seasons, but failing to get them over the hump. After a 4-0 start to the 2025 season, Franklin was let go after a three-game losing streak that eventually extended to six games following his departure.

While the decision may make sense to some corners of Penn State’s fanbase, Franklin is still scratching his head about what happened at the end of his reign in Happy Valley. The Virginia Tech head coach spoke with Andy Staples of On3 where he discussed his exit and how the entire situation affected him. “ I’ve got a huge chip on my shoulder.

Kind of an unusual situation ,” said Franklin. “Obviously some things happened that were in my control, and I take total responsibility for that. But I’ve got a chip on my shoulder.

” After all, Franklin led the team to a 13-3 record in 2024, their most ever wins in a season, which culminated in a College Football Playoff trip that saw the team inch closer to a national championship appearance than they have in some time. However, the midseason collapse last year that was kicked off by a crushing lost to the Oregon Ducks was the straw that broke the camel’s back in a tenure that was defined by frequent big-game losses. With a school as storied as Penn State, and as many resources as they possess, they just couldn’t justify coming up short any longer.