- Penn State fans chanted for James Franklin’s firing. They got their wish.
- Now that Franklin is out, Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell inherits the hottest seat in the Big Ten.
- Down South, hot seats are smoldering at Florida, Florida State and Auburn.
Penn State’s James Franklin beat Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell and Florida’s Billy Napier in the race to buyout bliss.
Penn State fans mercilessly chanted for Franklin’s firing after an embarrassing home loss to Northwestern. Hours later, they got their wish. Franklin is out at Penn State.
The hot seat remains cranked on high at Wisconsin and down to Auburn, Florida State and Florida.
For at least a couple of these guys, hot seat seems like a misnomer. They’re fired coaches in waiting, sideline stiffs waiting on their failure money to be delivered in the form of a buyout check.
Here are a few snap judgments from Week 7:
Penn State fans chant for James Franklin’s firing and get their wish
James Franklin wouldn’t say yes. Asked multiple times whether he wanted to remain Penn State’s coach after another flop, this one to Northwestern, Franklin did everything but answer yes.
He spoke of his commitment to his players. He expressed an understanding for fans’ frustration. He took “full responsibility for what’s happened this season.” He said a lot of words when answering direct questions about his future, but he wouldn’t say whether he wanted to remain Penn State’s coach.
Franklin must have realized once the home fans are booing you before you lose to Northwestern, you’re already on your way out. The loss to the Wildcats made it official.
Just a few days ago, I mused whether a Penn State-Franklin breakup could unfold with Franklin leaving for another job, rather than the Nittany Lions firing him. Franklin slinking out the back door would have saved Penn State a whopper buyout.
Franklin leaving for another job became a pipe dream. Northwestern made sure of that. Not even P.T. Barnum could sell a fan base on a Franklin hire, not after a loss to the Wildcats.
Penn State fans were at no loss for words, chanting “Fire Franklin!” and booing as the final seconds ticked off inside Beaver Stadium.
Franklin beat Fickell on the journey to buyout utopia.
Wisconsin, Luke Fickell challenge Penn State, James Franklin for misery
Nobody described Wisconsin’s 37-0 loss to Iowa better than the man who served it up.
“I’m dumbfounded,” Fickell said, amid his brutal assessment.
I’m dumbfounded, too, at how Wisconsin could be this inept. The Badgers (2-4) are on pace for their worst season since going 1-10 in 1990 in Barry Alvarez’s first season.
Wisconsin fired Paul Chryst in 2022 after it lost 34-10 at home to Illinois. The Illini were so much better that day at playing like how Wisconsin is supposed to play. That’s a tough look. But, in firing Chryst, Wisconsin ousted a coach who won 72% of his games.
Oh, how glorious that clip would look right now in Madison compared to this trash heap festering under Fickell, who’s not recruiting well, either.
Why is Fickell, who is 15-17 at Wisconsin, still employed today? Two words: Pricey buyout. It tops $27 million.
Pass the hat.
Curt Cignetti: Great hire. Luke Fickell: Bad hire. Go figure.
Let’s all just admit this hiring business is a glorified crapshoot.
Fickell seemed like he’d be a good fit for Wisconsin on the surface. He’d won consistently at Cincinnati while establishing a hard-nosed style that seemed like it ought to translate to Wisconsin and the Big Ten.
So much for that idea. While Fickell flops in Madison, Curt Cignetti ignites Indiana. Cignetti was such an unknown commodity when he arrived at IU he encouraged skeptics to Google him. In doing so, they’d learn he won in the Division II and Group of Five ranks. Now, he’s crushing it at Indiana.
Cignetti’s Hoosiers authored a cute little subplot last season while they made a shocking uprising to the playoff, but Cignetti’s sequel is no sideshow.
These Hoosiers can play with anybody. They proved that by bullying Oregon at Autzen Stadium. The Hoosiers played with more physicality than the Ducks in a 30-20 victory, and they looked every bit as athletic.
Unranked Maryland is the best opponent left on Indiana’s schedule. Look for Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza to pick up Heisman steam if the No. 3 Hoosiers should roll into a Big Ten championship clash with Ohio State undefeated.
ESPN’s Nick Saban caused a ripple this week when he downplayed the Big Ten and hailed the SEC’s depth of “pretty good” teams.
Perhaps so many SEC teams appear pretty good, because the conference lacks any force that’s as dominant as Indiana or Ohio State. While the SEC pushes its parity in a quest to stockpile playoff bids, Ohio State, Indiana, Miami and Texas Tech separate from the pack.
Oklahoma’s playoff hopes absorb a punch
Credit John Mateer’s grit that he played in Red River just 17 days after he had hand surgery, but he did more harm than good for Oklahoma. He threw three interceptions in a 23-6 loss to Texas that props up the Longhorns a bit and casts some serious doubt on the Sooners.
Mateer starting did Oklahoma no favors. The playoff selection committee might have handled this Oklahoma loss more gently if it had come while the Sooners started a backup quarterback.
Arch Manning started authoring his comeback story, but give most of the credit to Texas’ defense and its offensive line solidifying.
Three and out
1. Has there been a more disappointing coach in the Power Four the past two seasons than Mike Norvell? Years from now, the AI bots that rule the world will be at a loss for how Florida State managed to beat Alabama in the 2025 season opener. The Seminoles are a wilted bunch after losing at home to Pittsburgh. If you’re wondering about Norvell’s buyout, it’s a whopper topping $58 million. Score another one for agent Jimmy Sexton.
2. Auburn, riding a three-game losing streak, will play its next five games against Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Mercer. That’s as favorable of a midseason stretch as Hugh Freeze can ever expect. Here’s his chance to reshape his tenure. Consider it his final chance.
3. Texas Tech played the second half against Kansas using its backup quarterback after Behren Morton’s injury and still won 42-17. One of these Big 12 teams is not like the others. It’s the one bankrolled by a billionaire.
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.
