James Franklin's Penn State tenure by the numbers: Struggles against ranked opponents doomed fired coach

James Franklin's tenure at Penn State University has come to an end, with the university's decision to fire the head coach. During his eight-year tenure, Franklin had a 67-32 overall record, making him the second-winningest coach in Penn State's history. However, his struggles against ranked opponents were a significant factor in his dismissal. Franklin's teams went just 16-16 against ranked foes, failing to secure wins in critical games. The article highlights Franklin's inability to capitalize on Penn State's resources and talent, with the program unable to consistently compete at the highest level under his leadership. His failure to elevate the team to championship contention, despite the university's substantial investment in the program, ultimately led to his downfall. The article provides a balanced and data-driven analysis of Franklin's tenure, focusing on the key metrics and performance indicators that contributed to the university's decision to part ways with the coach.