Coach James Franklin's Next Move: A Fresh Start After Penn State Exit

James Franklin, the former Penn State football coach, is ready to move on. Even though he didn't win a national championship with the Nittany Lions, he's still determined to achieve that goal with a new team. Franklin shared his thoughts during a recent "College GameDay" interview, his first public appearance since being let go after three straight losses. The news of his firing came as a shock. Franklin was preparing for a team meeting when the athletic director broke the news. He quickly informed his players to spare them from finding out through social media. The meeting that followed was emotional, as Franklin said his goodbyes to the team. Despite the abrupt end to his time at Penn State, Franklin chose to remain positive. He avoided criticizing the university's decision, even though some, like Nick Saban, thought it was unfair. Franklin had been with Penn State for 12 years, with a significant portion of his contract still remaining. The team had started the season as the No. 2-ranked team in the country, showing great promise. Last season, Penn State was close to a national championship. They won against SMU and Boise State in the College Football Playoff but lost to Notre Dame in the semifinals. Franklin admitted he was still processing the abrupt end to his tenure. He acknowledged the good moments and big wins but accepted that decisions had been made. With Franklin's departure, Penn State promoted Terry Smith to head coach for the remainder of the season. The team faces challenges ahead, including a road game against Iowa and the absence of quarterback Drew Allar, who is out for the season due to injury. Franklin, however, is already looking forward to his next challenge. He made it clear that his coaching journey is far from over. "I can't wait for that next challenge, " he said, "and we're gonna go win a national championship at the highest level. "