One year ago, Penn State sent a seismic shockwave through college football, firing James Franklin mid-season on October 12, 2025. They were 3-3 at the time, a squad supposedly set up for success, but underperformed with three straight losses to Big Ten opponents. Fast forward exactly one year to the day, and in a cruel twist that no one could have predicted, both Penn State and James Franklin find themselves right back in that identical 3-3 hole, caught in eerily similar states of disappointment.
The Breakup That Was Supposed To Change Everything
Pat Kraft, Penn State’s athletic director, made an emotional call to move on from Franklin, despite the coach’s impressive 104 wins and five top-10 finishes over 12 years. Kraft said it was an immediate move for the best interest of the players and the direction of the season. Penn State was desperate to join college football’s elite, and they thought ditching Franklin was the way to do it. They went all in, hiring Matt Campbell and spending millions on the coaching change. The expectation? To leave that 3-3 mediocrity behind forever. The reality? They are staring down the barrel of 3-3 again on October 12, 2026. Wild, right? You spend that kind of cash, make that huge a splash, and you end up exactly where you started? It’s a tough pill to swallow for anyone connected to the Nittany Lions.
Franklin’s Fresh Start Hits A Familiar Wall
On Franklin’s side, he was probably a bit stunned to be shown the door six games into the 2025 season. But the man wasn’t out of work for long! Virginia Tech saw him as an “early home run candidate,” especially after they canned Brent Pry even earlier that same year. Look, Franklin had about $49 million worth of reasons to just chill out and enjoy a break from coaching. But Virginia Tech came at him with a full-court press: enhanced investments, a real chance to get back to work. He settled up with Penn State, got a new contract, and then, boom! A hero’s welcome in Blacksburg. Frank Beamer himself gave his blessing, and Franklin even brought his old assistant, Brent Pry, back as defensive coordinator. The hype was real; everyone thought he was the guy to rocket the Hokies back to the top of the ACC. But here we are, one year into his tenure, and Virginia Tech is also sitting at 3-3. Both sides had so much hope and optimism after the split, feeling like they were better off, only to land right back in the same disappointing spot.
Where Do We Go From Here?
So, what’s next? This week’s snapshot paints a pretty bleak picture for both Franklin and Penn State: they are currently a combined 0-4 against teams with a winning record. That’s a gut punch, no question. But the good news, if you can call it that, is that there are still plenty of games left. Both programs have the opportunity to flush this past week, these past disappointments, and actually rewrite the present. Penn State’s got to figure out if all those millions spent actually translate to wins, and Franklin needs to prove he can take Virginia Tech beyond this familiar .500 mark. The season isn’t over, but man, the pressure is building for both to prove this breakup wasn’t just a giant, expensive circle back to exactly where they started.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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