Inside Penn State’s last six months: The good, the bad, the unbelievable, and the new coach
What do you remember about the first week of 2025?
Here is what I remember: Freezing in a parking lot outside Beaver Stadium early on the first Saturday of the new year while watching my seat for 23 years explode.
Little did we know it was a slice of foreshadowing to what would occur in the second half of 2025 for the Penn State football program.
Coaches, players and fans were feeling good in July. Real good.
Remember July? Seems long ago, but it’s only been six months.
What happened in and around the Nittany Lions’ program during that time? What didn’t happen?
It’s been a wild ride that just got more interesting with PSU’s hiring of new football coach Matt Campbell.
Penn State’s 6-6 season is not over, with a bowl game bid expected to come Sunday.
This is a story about the Lions’ key moments from July into early December, a span that has featured a little bit of everything, including the addition of another head coach with strong Iowa State ties.
JULY
James Franklin talks the talk: Maybe it was the way 2024 finished, with the Lions a play or two away from facing Ohio State in the national title game. PSU came up just short in a 27-24 playoff semifinal loss to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl.
Plenty of key veterans returned. Penn State added a premiere defensive coordinator in Jim Knowles, plus three productive vets to shore up the “wideout” problem.
Maybe it was all of it.
Many national experts believed Franklin’s Lions were a legit championship threat.
So, too, did Franklin.
Penn State head coach James Franklin takes the podium at the Big Ten Football Media Days in Las Vegas. July 23, 2025.
Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.comJoe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com
During PSU’s appearance in steamy Las Vegas for the Big Ten Media Days in late July, Franklin had this to say about the 2025 team’s potential:
“Excited about the additions to our staff this season with Jim Knowles and (running backs coach) Stan Drayton. Two veteran coaches with head coach and championship level experience.
“This is the best combined personnel that I think we’ve had at Penn State, and when I talk about personnel, I’m talking about players and staff, from a depth, from a talent standpoint, and from an experience standpoint. So, we’re very excited about that.”
Franklin did not shy away from expectations. Again, he said: “Best combined personnel.”
Penn State’s 12th-year head coach talked the talk.
His Lions could not walk the walk.
AUGUST
Beaver Stadium’s $700 million facelift progressing: Penn State began its three-year, $700 million stadium renovation by blowing up the press box. At least I was not in it.
Fast-forward to a couple weeks before Penn State’s season opener vs. Nevada on Aug. 30 in State College.
Penn State AD Pat Kraft – you will read his name a few times in this story – gushed about the progress being made on Beaver Stadium’s new look; a look that included temporary seating.
”We’ve got the keys to the castle,” Kraft said, “we are in that building, we are off and running.”
1/17
Penn State Beaver Stadium temporary seating
SEPTEMBER
A sluggish start and a disappointing White Out loss: Penn State, ranked as high as No. 2 at one point in September, opened its season with a 46-11 win over heavy underdog Nevada at Beaver Stadium on Sept. 30.
If it is possible to look inconsistent in a 35-point victory, the Lions did just that.
More so-so efforts against non-conference underdogs followed at home – a 34-0 win over Florida International and a 52-6 triumph over FCS Villanova.
Was Penn State simply taking it easy against overmatched teams in preparation for its gigantic White Out matchup on Sept. 27?
Nope.
The excitement around the White Out game was palpable, yet Dan Lanning’s Oregon Ducks built a 17-3 lead on Franklin’s team in the fourth quarter before Penn State rallied with a pair of touchdowns to force overtime.
The Lions took a seven-point lead in OT, but Oregon responded with 13 points to go up 30-24.
Needing a touchdown and an extra point to pull off an improbable comeback, Drew Allar’s first-down pass on the Lions’ second OT possession was intercepted by Oregon star safety Dillon Thieneman to deliver the first heartbreak.
It wasn’t the last.
Penn State quarterback Drew Allar leaves the field with head coach James Franklin after throwing an interception in the second overtime to end the game and lose to Oregon, 30-24 on Sept. 27, 2025.
Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.comJoe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.
OCTOBER
Losses to heavy underdogs end Franklin’s PSU career: One loss to Oregon, another contender to win it all, was not a big deal.
Consecutive defeats to UCLA and Northwestern?
Big deal. Time to move on.
The Bruins, 0-4 coming in, were 24.5-point underdogs at kickoff.
They led 27-7 at half and finished with 435 total yards, 269 on the ground. PSU’s rally fell short.
Penn State was 3-2 and it would get worse.
The Lions lost 22-21 to Northwestern – three-touchdown underdogs – the following Saturday in State College. Late in the game, Allar suffered a season-ending ankle injury.
One day after the Northwestern loss, Kraft announced on Oct. 12 he was firing Frankin and installing PSU assistant Terry Smith, a former Lions captain, as interim head coach.
During a press conference inside Beaver Stadium’s media room on Oct. 13, Kraft explained his decision and described what he was looking for in the Lions’ next permanent head coach.
Penn State Athletic Director Pat Kraft speaks during a press conference at Beaver Stadium the day after head coach James Franklin was fired. Oct. 13, 2025.
Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.comPennLive
“Our next coach will be someone who embodies everything Penn State stands for: integrity, accountability, toughness, humility and an elite motivator,” Kraft said.
“We’ll find a coach who can achieve excellence at the highest level, doing it with confidence and conviction. Recruiting will always be a pillar here. We want someone who will attract elite talent, retain players in the NIL era and make Penn State a destination.”
“This is also about the modern era of college football,” Kraft continued.
“Our next coach needs to be able to maximize elite-level resources, attack the transfer portal and develop at the highest level.”
Kraft would add: “This person has to fit Penn State. They need to represent the toughness, the blue-collar work ethic and the class that defines this institution.
“We want someone who honors our tradition but isn’t afraid to evolve.”
Kraft said those words on Oct. 13.
Penn State’s permanent next head coach would not be hired until early December.
Terry Smith era kicks off on Oct. 18 vs. Iowa: Smith, a wideout who was a captain on Penn State’s 1991 team that finished 11-2 and won a Fiesta Bowl, promised to improve the Lions’ play at the line of scrimmage. He did.
Smith made one more necessary change. He installed senior Kaytron Allen as the team’s feature back.
No more 50-50 split with Nick Singleton.
Penn State fans may remember Allen was not on the field for the Lions’ late-game offensive series deep in UCLA territory. Penn State could have forced overtime with a touchdown.
NOVEMBER
The losses pile up against No. 1 Ohio State and a near-miss vs. No. 2 Indiana: With Smith in charge, Penn State lost by a point to Iowa in Iowa City. Allen was a workhorse, running for 145 yards and two scores.
But PSU was also breaking in redshirt freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer. Kinnick Stadium is a tough place to make career start No. 1.
Following a bye week, the Lions hung with No. 1 Ohio State for a half in Columbus before the Buckeyes pulled away for a 38-14 victory on Nov. 1.
1/46
Penn State vs Indiana, Nov. 8, 2025
Penn State, a significant underdog, hosted unbeaten Indiana on Nov. 8.
It turned into the game of the year in the Big Ten.
The Lions fell behind 20-7 in the second half, rallied to take a 24-20 lead late, and looked on as IU scored a touchdown in the final minute, driving down the field thanks to some incredible catches by the Hoosiers’ skill players. Indiana 27, Penn State 24.
Penn State regains its footing at Michigan State: The Lions’ six-game losing streak ended when PSU pounded Michigan State 28-10 in East Lansing on Nov. 15, shutting out the Spartans in the second half.
Allen stampeded through the Spartans’ ‘D’ for 181 yards and two touchdowns.
A couple of days later during his weekly news conference previewing the Penn State-Nebraska game, Smith broke down when asked about all the people who reached out him following his first win as Penn State’s head coach.
“I apologize,” Smith said to Penn State’s media.
“It’s just humbling to sit in this seat. There are so many people in my life that speak life into me. And they all reached out to me.”
“Saturday was, I can’t even tell you how it felt,” Smith continued, again fighting through tears.
“I’ve never been lifted off the field in my career. It’s just a great moment. I’m sorry. I apologize.”
Smith added: “My dad graduated (from Penn State) in ’68. It’s all we know. I’m from a small town called Aliquippa, Pennsylvania.
“My dad, through his education at Penn State, moved us to the other side of Pittsburgh, to Monroeville, Pennsylvania. He gave us a better life because of his education here. And it taught our entire family about possibilities in life. You can be whatever you want to be.”
Cause for positivity again as Kaytron Allen passes Evan Royster: After three seasons with Penn State, both Allen and Singleton piled up more than 3,000 rushing yards.
Both backs had a chance to pass Evan Royster and become the Lions’ all-time leading rusher. Royster, who finished his career in 2010, was No. 1 with 3,932 yards.
Once Smith handed the starting job to Allen, he was the only one who could catch Royster.
During Penn State’s final home game on Senior Night vs. Nebraska, Royster hammered away at the Cornhuskers’ defense for 160 yards and two touchdowns, passing Royster in the second half. Penn State cruised, 37-10.
After the game, Smith made it clear he wanted the PSU job.
“I was always ready to be a head coach,” Smith said. “I was a head coach for 12 years in high school (at Gateway). It’s a different level, but leading men is leading men.”
Smith added: “Coaching is coaching. … I’m a leader of men. You guys see it. You’re witnessing it every day.”
Penn State great Michael Robinson, a captain on the Lions’ 2005 Big Ten championship team, was part of NBC’s coverage of PSU-Nebraska. M-Rob said on national television that Smith should be PSU’s next permanent head coach.
Penn State interim head coach Terry Smith greets former Nittany Lin standout Michael Robinson during warmups before the Nebraska game on Nov. 22, 2025.
Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.comJoe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com
A thrilling 40-36 win at Rutgers to finish .500 and earn bowl eligibility: From 3-3 to 6-6, there was no question Penn State made strides during Smith’s six games as head coach.
The Lions had to rally in the fourth quarter to beat Rutgers 40-36 on Nov. 29 in Piscataway, N.J.
The difference was a 61-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Penn State linebacker Amare Campbell.
In his last two games, Grunkemeyer completed 28 of 33 for 390 yards and two touchdowns. He looked comfortable as Penn State’s starting QB vs. the Scarlet Knights.
DECEMBER
A 2026 recruiting class comes up short: When Penn State moved on from Franklin, the Lions’ recruiting class was going to take a hit.
Franklin, one of the best recruiters in FBS, was hired by Virginia Tech late last month. Previously, Franklin built relationships with many of the Lions’ verbal commitments.
A few chose to sign with the Hokies, Harrisburg High running back Messiah Mickens among them.
Signing Day was last Wednesday. Penn State’s 2026 class only had a couple of players in it.
A near-miss for the next PSU head coach: Early in the first week of December, Penn State was thought to be in great shape in its pursuit of BYU’s Kalani Sitake to become the program’s next head coach.
But the Cougars were able to sign Sitake to a long-term extension.
During the PSU coaching search led by Kraft, a number of high-profile coaches had received extensions to stay with their programs — Curt Cignetti at Indiana, Matt Rhule at Nebraska, Mike Elko at Texas A&M, Sitake at BYU – or been hired elsewhere (Lane Kiffin, LSU).
54 days in, Penn State lands its head coach: Kraft fired Franklin on Oct. 12.
Kraft spoke at a press conference on Oct. 13, discussing what he wanted in the Lions’ next head coach.
Penn State tabbed Iowa State’s Matt Campbell to be the guy on Dec. 5.
A 54-day span.
Smith, who held Penn State’s team together during the second half of the season and currently has the Lions on a three-game winning streak, will be on PSU’s 2026 coaching staff.
What’s next for Penn State?
A bowl game later this month.
And soon it will be time to hear from the new football coach.
An explosive six months indeed.
