Penn State fires James Franklin as season spirals in $49 million disaster

The James Franklin era at Penn State is over.

The school fired Franklin as its head football coach on Sunday, according to multiple reports, after another disastrous loss on Saturday at home against Northwestern, the team’s third straight defeat.

Franklin, 53, is owed more than $49 million, according to ESPN.

Penn State has fired head coach James Franklin. Getty Images

The Nittany Lions entered the season as the preseason No. 2 team in the country, but after a 3-0 start they lost at home in double overtime to Oregon before a shocking road loss against a previously winless UCLA team.

Making matters worse, quarterback Drew Allar suffered a season-ending leg injury in Saturday’s loss to Northwestern.

Franklin was in his 12th season at Penn State and led them to the College Football Playoff semifinals last season, losing to Notre Dame.