The Penn State fans chanting “Fire Franklin” during Saturday’s ugly home loss to Northwestern got their wish one day later.

The school canned longtime football coach James Franklin on Sunday after the program suffered its third straight defeat following a 3-0 start to the season.

The 53-year-old Franklin, in his 12th year in Happy Valley, had $49 million remaining on his contract, according to ESPN.

The Nittany Lions opened the year as preseason No. 2 team in the country after falling to Notre Dame in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff in January.

After winning their first three games, they dropped a double-OT crusher at home to Oregon before suffering a shocking 42-37 road loss to previously winless UCLA last week.  The Bruins, who had fired coach Deshaun Foster in September, also won Saturday at Michigan State.

Penn State has fired head coach James Franklin. Getty Images

James Franklin speaks to reporters after Penn State’s loss to Northwestern on Oct. 11, 2025. Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images

Penn State’s 22-21 loss Saturday against Northwestern at Beaver Stadium also featured a season-ending leg injury to senior quarterback Drew Allar late in the fourth quarter. The Nittany Lions were favored in the game by more than three touchdowns.

“I take full responsibility for all of it,” Franklin said after the game. “I hired all the staff, I recruited all the players. I believe in all of them. But we’re not getting it done right now.”

With the home loss to No.6 Oregon on Sept. 27, Penn State fell to 4-21 under Franklin against AP top-10 opponents, including a 1-10 mark in Big Ten conference games.

Penn State head coach James Franklin looks over quarterback Drew Allar (15) as he lays on the field injured during the fourth quarter on Oct. 11, 2025. AP

“I get that narrative, and it’s really not a narrative — it’s factual. It’s the facts,” Franklin said after that loss to the Ducks. “I try to look at the entire picture and what we’ve been able to do here.

“But at the end of the day, we got to find a way to win those games. I totally get it. And I take ownership. I take responsibility.”

Associate coach Terry Smith will serve as the program’s interim head coach for the rest of the season.

“We hold our athletics programs to the highest of standards,” Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft said in a statement. “And we believe this is the right moment for new leadership at the helm of our football program to advance us toward Big Ten and national championships.”