Dabo Swinney Breaks Silence on Shocking James Franklin Firing—What He Really Thinks Will Surprise You

In a stunning turn of events that’s rattled the college football world, Penn State made the difficult decision to part ways with head coach James Franklin this past Sunday, a move precipitated by a disheartening string of three consecutive losses. Over a remarkable 12-season tenure in State College, Franklin’s record stood tall at 104 wins against 45 defeats, highlighted by six seasons boasting double-digit victories and an exhilarating run to the College Football Playoff semifinals just last year—a heartbeat away from the national championship game. It’s incredible to think that barely two weeks before this seismic announcement, Franklin’s squad held the No. 2 spot nationwide, boasting an undefeated streak and locked in a nail-biting overtime clash against the formidable Oregon Ducks. No dirty laundry, no off-field drama—just two hours of underwhelming performances against struggling programs like UCLA and Northwestern culminated in this shocking dismissal. The ripple effect of this decision was felt far beyond Happy Valley, catching the attention of peers like Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, who, speaking from his own battles with the brutal pace of the season, expressed sympathy and acknowledged the harsh realities of the coaching profession. As Franklin joins a growing list of seven head coaches dismissed this season, including names like DeShaun Foster and Trent Dilfer, Penn State looks ahead with Terry Smith stepping in as interim coach, tasked with steadying the ship for the remainder of the campaign. This saga is a vivid reminder of how quickly fortunes in college football can shift, turning rogues into legends and vice versa. LEARN MORE.

Penn State football fired head coach James Franklin on Sunday following three straight losses.

Over parts of 12 seasons, Franklin compiled a 104-45 record in State College. The Nittany Lions posted six seasons of 10 wins or more, and they reached the semifinal round of the College Football Playoff just last season. Penn State was one play away from reaching the national championship game.

As recently as 15 days before Sunday’s announcement, Franklin had the No. 2-ranked team in the country. His Nittany Lions were unbeaten and headed to overtime against the Oregon Ducks, a top-ranked opponent.

He was fired with no scandals or skeletons in his closet. Just 120 minutes of bad football against bad college football teams, UCLA and Northwestern.

Clemson Tigers coach Dabo Swinney, who understands a thing or two about how fast a season can slip away, discussed Franklin’s firing during his weekly teleconference with reporters

“It’s sad to see,” Swinney said via The State’s Chapel Fowler. “We all understand that it’s part of this business… but it’s still hard.”

Swinney, whose Tigers were ranked No. 4 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll, but sit at 3-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play following their 41-10 win at Boston College on Saturday, added:

“I know everyone will say, ‘Well, he’s getting the buyout.’ Coach Franklin didn’t get into coaching to make money — I promise you. This has been a calling upon his life … But I also understand the business. He’ll bounce back.”

Franklin is one of seven head coaches to be fired through the first month and a half of the 2025 season, joining UCLA’s DeShaun Foster, Virginia Tech’s Brent Pry, Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy, Arkansas’ Sam Pittman, Oregon State’s Trent Bray, and UAB’s Trent Dilfer.

Bray and Dilfer were both fired Sunday. Penn State announced that former Nittany Lions cornerback Terry Smith, the team’s associate head coach, would serve as interim coach for the remainder of the season.