Penn State suffered a stunning loss to UCLA as a more than three-touchdown favorite last weekend, leading to speculation about James Franklin and his future leading the Nittany Lions.
College football expert Chris “The Bear” Fallica spoke on his podcast this week and predicted what is next for James Franklin and Penn State as some are calling for him to be replaced.
Fallica, who previously worked at ESPN and is now with FOX Sports, has an interesting theory for what will occur.
“While I get the call for James Franklin, like, people talking about his job security, I don’t think you can fire him. The buyout is massive,” Fallica said. “This is going to be one of those perfect like Jimmy Sexton maneuvered – give James Franklin a soft landing spot, get him a gig.
“That way Penn State doesn’t have to ante up the buyout. Slide one of Sexton’s guys in there to give him a job. It’ll be one of those things.”
Franklin’s buyout is in the neighborhood of $50 million, which has to factor into the thinking for the Nittany Lions.
Fallica heard someone compare James Franklin’s situation at Penn State to John Calipari’s at Kentucky, before he left for Arkansas. The Bear believes the analogy is a good one.
“I don’t know who it was this week… they made a very good parallel to what James Franklin is at Penn State with what the end of the John Calipari era was at Kentucky, that he’s a great coach. He’s won big games. But it’s just kind of gotten to a level where there’s a little bit of toxicity in the fanbase,“ Fallica said. ”It’s apparent the best resolution for both sides right now would be to separate as amicably as possible. So we’ll see.”
Penn State fell 42-37 to the Bruins last Saturday. UCLA was 0-4 heading into the game.
“A completely unfathomable, unexpected loss by Penn State at UCLA,“ Chris Fallica said. ”The Nittany Lions were a 24.5-point favorite. UCLA was the only team in the country which had not led for a second in any game.
“This was a team that lost by four touchdowns on their home field to Utah and New Mexico. And it looked like a completely unprepared, unready Penn State team.”