Penn State is exploring options to find a new football coach after parting ways with James Franklin. One candidate under consideration is Marcus Freeman, the head coach at Notre Dame, as noted by reports from On3.
The site indicates that Penn State plans to implement “major changes” following Franklin’s dismissal just six games into the 2025 season, which has seen the team suffer three consecutive defeats.
Interestingly, names like Ryan Day from Ohio State and Karen DeBoer of Alabama State are noted as “not serious candidates” for the position.
Freeman, age 39, is in his fourth year at Notre Dame, where he previously served as the defensive coordinator. He led the Fighting Irish to the College Football Playoff national championship game last year, a challenging match against his former college, Ohio State.
Promoted to head coach in late 2021, Freeman has seen the team’s performance improve over the seasons, finishing with a record of 9-4 in his debut year, then 10-3 in 2023, and an impressive 14-2 last season.
Currently, the Irish hold a 4-2 record after starting the season ranked 6th but have dropped to 13th. They began with losses to Miami and Texas A&M but have since bounced back, winning four games in a row against Purdue, Arkansas, Boise State, and North Carolina State. A significant challenge looms as they prepare to face USC this Saturday.
Franklin, now in his 12th season with the Nittany Lions, saw his team fall to Notre Dame in the CFP semifinals last year. Meanwhile, athletic director Pat Kraft has conveyed that the program is committed to making substantial investments in the pursuit of success.
“Football is our backbone. We’ve invested at the highest level, and with that comes high expectations,” Kraft expressed on Monday. He emphasized the belief that new leadership is essential for the team to win a national championship and noted that now is the right time for a change.
Kraft added that the next coach must fully utilize the team’s elite resources, engage with the transfer portal effectively, and develop players at the highest level.
