The Future of Penn State Football

By Bryce Rioux

Penn State football has officially entered one of the most uncertain and emotion driven periods in recent memory. With James Franklin freshly fired and quarterback Drew Allar out with a season ending injury, our beloved Nittany Lions find themselves at a turning point, one that could redefine the reputation and direction of the program for the years to follow. 

This is more than just a coaching change, this is the potential for a cultural reset. Let's break down what happened, why it matters and where Penn State goes from here. 

The end of the James Franklin Era

The cherished head coach of the PSU football team for 12 years was fired this past weekend, Oct. 12, 2025. He was a much needed pillar of stability for the team, performing miracles during the post-Sandusky rebuild. Franklin was renowned for securing elite recruiting classes, and played a major role in making Penn State nationally relevant again. 

Unfortunately, Franklin’s time at Penn State was not entirely praise-worthy. Franklin had a 4-21 record against opponents ranked in the top 10. Fans were constantly disappointed by the team's inability to secure wins against hard teams. PSU fans were stuck in a constant cycle of “Next year is our year”, but that year never came. 

Penn State’s football program was stuck in the dead zone of being “good.” The team never quite made it to that next level, and for a university with PSU’s resources and prestige, that “almost elite” status was just not enough. This exhaustion from fans, donors and trustees alike is what ultimately led to the decisions to fire Franklin, following a 21-22 loss against the Northwestern Wildcats. 

To Make Matters Worse

As if the Penn State vs. Northwestern game was not painful enough, QB1 Drew Allar, suffered a career ending injury in the fourth quarter of the game, with just three minutes left. The injury effectively ended Allar’s college football career, leaving fans worried about who will take his place as starting quarterback. 

Allar is not always a top fan favorite, but he was undeniably a crucial part of the team. Whether you blame the coaching or Allar himself, losing him means Penn State is now without a star quarterback and a head coach as the season progresses. Despite the unfortunate timing of the injury, the Penn State community is hopeful to see what our other quarterbacks will bring to the table. Could Allar’s exit from CFB be a blessing in disguise?

So…What Now?

Penn State football is possibly in one of the highest stakes situations it has ever been in. WIth the decision of the new head coach looming, all future actions will play a part in determining Penn State’s future. The team has already suffered numerous decommitments from top players in the country, further destabilizing the vulnerable team. This next hire can either resolidify PSU in the Big Ten as a playoff regular or risk digging the team into a hole too deep to climb out of. 

Penn State’s next head coach is not coming into an easy position. Fans will be more critical than ever following the Franklin era. Fans want to see a head coach who will lead PSU to victory in every kind of game, big or small, and utilize all the talent the team has to offer. Penn State is a name that means something, and the team needs a coach who knows what to do with that name. PSU took the incredibly bold and risky step of firing Franklin, and this is the time to keep that momentum going. No more safe choices, it's time to be confident and daring when bringing in the future Nittany Lions head coach. 

Bottom Line

Penn State does have the fanbase, reputation and resources to restore the team to its full potential. Yes, Franklin brought PSU back to respectability, but somewhere along the way he hit the ceiling. This is not time for a rebuild, the foundation of Penn State is strong. It is time for reinvention. Penn State can choose to continue holding onto the past and stay good, or they can choose to embrace the risk of this uncertainty and finally become great. 

With the change of leadership, we are about to find out if Penn State truly wants to be elite, or if “almost” was always the goal.