Coaching Hot Seats Heating Up: James Franklin & Other Names Under Fire in 2025
When a program hiring a coach expects stability and upward trajectory, a couple of bad results—or the wrong kind of bad result—can change the narrative quickly. For James Franklin, his Penn State tenure is being sharply questioned after a costly upset loss to UCLA, and he’s far from the only coach feeling the heat this season.
The Franklin Situation at Penn State
The Defining Loss
Penn State, a program with high expectations, was favored by about 24.5 points before its matchup with winless UCLA, yet lost 42-37 in dramatic fashion. That defeat followed a tough showing against Oregon and magnified concerns around offensive inconsistency, decision-making, and performance in key moments.
Critics have pointed out strange explanations from Franklin in post-game comments, and expressed frustration that Penn State now looks vulnerable even in games they “should” win.
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Franklin has built considerable goodwill with earlier success, including Big Ten championships and bowl performances.
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His buyout and contract terms create financial friction for abrupt dismissals.
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Penn State’s administration may be reluctant to pull the plug midseason without a clear replacement lined up.
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Some insiders argue Franklin still “holds the cards” if he can salvage the second half of the season.
Still, one more high-profile stinker—or a loss to a weaker opponent—might tilt the momentum too far against him.
🧩 Other Coaches Under the Gun in 2025
Here are several coaches widely discussed as being on “hot seats” this season:
| Coach | School | Why They’re Under Pressure |
|---|---|---|
| Brent Pry | Virginia Tech | Entered 2025 already viewed as having limited margin for error. |
| Billy Napier | Florida | Already has had to battle narratives about underperformance; his seat is often described as “cycling back under heat.” |
| Lincoln Riley | USC | High expectations, fewer missteps tolerated; if things go south, his tenure could be in jeopardy. |
| Luke Fickell | Wisconsin | Struggles in prior seasons have eroded fan patience, and the 2025 schedule is unforgiving. |
| Sam Pittman | Arkansas | A poor SEC record the past few seasons raises questions about long-term viability. |
These coaches aren’t all at the same level of risk—some are closer to expiration than others—but they’re all navigating the precarious margins of modern college coaching.
What Will Decide Their Fate?
Here are some of the key factors that tend to determine whether a coach survives:
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Second-half performance: If the coach can rally the team out of early losses, it often buys time.
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Conference play & rivalry results: Losses within the conference or in rivalry games weigh much heavier.
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Recruiting momentum & buyout cost: Strong recruiting classes can rescue a coach; steep buyouts make firings riskier.
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Fan and booster sentiment: The louder the calls for change (billboards, social media, donor pressure), the harder it is to stay.
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Performance in games “they should win”: Losing to underdogs or failing to close out weaker opponents is one of the fastest ways to lose support.
For Franklin, the UCLA game might check several boxes: a heavily favored loss, poor in-game decisions, and little margin for recovery.
