10-13-2025, 03:07 PM
I think the better analogy, such as it is, was Jim Harbaugh at Michigan after the 2020 season. While Harbaugh had been successful at Michigan, his tenure was dogged by the fact that he had gone 0-4 against Ohio State; Franklin’s tenure at Penn State had likewise been reasonably successful, but was always sullied by a perception that Franklin could not win big games.
Then, Harbaugh went 2-4 in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, and there were questions as to whether he was the right person for the job, just as Franklin’s two big time upset losses to UCLA and Northwestern have made questions about Franklin’s coaching abilities this year.
The difference is that Michigan stuck with Harbaugh, who did revamp his coaching staff after 2020, and eventually took his team to a national title and some NCAA violations before departing for LA. We will never know what Franklin would have done with Penn State. Franklin has been at Penn State over a decade, so it is not unreasonable to think that his ceiling might be top-10 team but not a real national title contender, which I guess is not good enough for Penn State fans.
BC
Then, Harbaugh went 2-4 in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, and there were questions as to whether he was the right person for the job, just as Franklin’s two big time upset losses to UCLA and Northwestern have made questions about Franklin’s coaching abilities this year.
The difference is that Michigan stuck with Harbaugh, who did revamp his coaching staff after 2020, and eventually took his team to a national title and some NCAA violations before departing for LA. We will never know what Franklin would have done with Penn State. Franklin has been at Penn State over a decade, so it is not unreasonable to think that his ceiling might be top-10 team but not a real national title contender, which I guess is not good enough for Penn State fans.
BC