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For anyone wondering, yes, Penn State would owe James Franklin a considerable amount money if they were to fire the Nittany Lions head football coach amid a disastrous 2025 season.
Such a move wasn't really a consideration when Penn State started the year ranked No. 2 in the AP poll before winning its first three games of the season.
Now, after the Nittany Lions dropped their second straight game with Saturday's 42-37 upset loss to a previously winless UCLA, Franklin is an entirely different situation altogether.
Disappointed Penn State fans who made the cross-country trip to Pasadena for the Big Ten matchup were heard chanting 'Fire Franklin!' as the Nittany Lions were trailing in the first half. And since then, a number of fans have called for Franklin's job on X.
Of course, firing the 15th highest-paid college football coach in the country comes at a price: About $50 million or so.
Franklin signed a 10-year extension worth a guaranteed $75 million in 2021. The guarantees him $56 million if he's fired during the 2025 season and $48 million if he gets the axe on January 1 or later.
Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks on against the UCLA Bruins during the second quarter at Rose Bowl Stadium on Saturday in Pasadena
Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) is tackled by UCLA Bruins linebacker Jonjon Vaughns (6) during the second quarter at the Rose Bowl on Saturday in Pasadena
Fans expected the Nittany Lions to compete for a national championship in 2025. But after a home loss to No. 6 Oregon – which dropped Franklin's record against top-10 teams to 4-21 – many have already seen enough.
The problem is, Penn State is in the midst of a $700 million renovation with Beaver Stadium, so the program may not be able to afford to simultaneously pay Franklin and his replacement.
'James Franklin should be fired,' one fan wrote on X. 'But $50 million is a gigantic sum. Bottom line, no Penn State fan will ever trust him again. Rightfully so.'
A few entrepreneurial fans offered some solutions.
'If every living alumni contributes $60 to the buyout, Penn State can easily get rid of James Franklin,' one joked online.
Another asked: 'Can we start a GoFundMe for a James Franklin buyout?'
A roughly $50 million buyout is obviously pricey, but would still rank below the record-breaking $78 million golden parachute Jimbo Fisher received when he was fired at Texas A&M in 2023.
