What Does Franklin's Exit Mean for Penn State's Identity?

The news of James Franklin's departure was most definitely surprising to Penn State fans and the CFB world.

After a stellar 2024 season, the Nittany Lions were willing and ready for anything that came their way this season, especially when they opened the season at the No. 2 spot in the AP poll. However, what they weren't expecting was for their head coach to leave mid-season.

In his tenure, Franklin was deemed as one of the most confident and culture-driven coaches of the program as he lead his team to a Big Ten championship in 2016. He also had five top-10 finishes and left the program 104-45 overall. These accomplishments do not go unnoticed, but there were shifts this past year that facilitated this decision, including a shocking loss to Northwestern and the loss of their five-star quarterback, Drew Allar.

The wins do not go unnoticed, but there are adjustments to be made in the coming weeks as Penn State finds someone new to spearhead the department. One thing the newcomer should look out for and focus on is the team's offense. Franklin's offense finished outside of the top half of the Big Ten in total yards per game only once in his previous 11 seasons. And prior to Allar's season-ending injury, he'd thrown three interceptions and had the worst start in the previous six games he started.

With these inconsistencies, Penn State will have to figure out quickly just exactly who they are without their former head coach and starting quarterback. And while interim head coach, Terry Smith is prepared and driven, there are still unanswered questions that fans are worried about. What was supposed to be an explosive Big Ten team quickly became something unsettled and rattled. Now, with the weight of a fractured team, Smith will have to try to rebuild the team with the demands of the Big Ten and fans all around.

The $49 million buy-out most definitely creates tension and uncertainty, but there's no denying that Penn State can reach that level of competitiveness they once had. They'll have to refocus their minds from the devastating loss to Northwestern and shift it to something much more dominating. Something much more thrilling.

There is heaviness in Happy Valley, but the next question fans and the team should focus on next is, what does Penn State football stand for now?