November 7, 2025 Update: Coaching Change Confirmed
James Franklin has been officially fired as Penn State head coach, with defensive backs coach Terry Smith serving as interim head coach for the remainder of the 2025 season. This marks the first time since 2011 that Penn State has made an in-season coaching change.
As of November 7, 2025, Penn State sits at a devastating 0-5 in Big Ten conference play despite having a 3-6 overall record after a 38-14 loss to Indiana. This unprecedented conference record collapse represents one of the most dramatic falls in program history, made even more remarkable given the team’s championship aspirations just 10 weeks earlier.
The Unexpected Conference Gauntlet
When Penn State entered Big Ten play with a 3-0 record against non-conference opponents, the narrative seemed promising. The Nittany Lions had decisively beaten Nevada (46-11), FIU (34-0), and Villanova (52-6), showcasing the offensive firepower that had made them a preseason top-3 team.
However, the reality of Big Ten competition proved harsh and unforgiving:
Conference Loss Details
Week 4: Oregon 30, Penn State 24 (2OT)
- Location: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon
- This double-overtime loss on September 27 should have served as a wake-up call
- Penn State played a competitive game against a ranked opponent but came up short when it mattered most
- The loss began a three-game losing streak that would ultimately doom the season
Week 5: UCLA 42, Penn State 37
- Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
- Perhaps the most shocking loss came when Penn State fell to UCLA as a 24.5-point favorite
- The Bruins’ upset victory on the road signaled that something was fundamentally wrong with the Nittany Lions
- This loss proved to be a harbinger of the conference struggles ahead
Week 6: Northwestern 22, Penn State 21
- Location: Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania
- Ranked as a 21.5-point favorite at home, Penn State’s loss to Northwestern was perhaps the most damaging blow
- This game saw Drew Allar’s season-ending injury in the fourth quarter
- Northwestern’s upset victory—their first over Penn State since 2015—marked a turning point in the program’s season
Week 7: Iowa 25, Penn State 24
- Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
- Terry Smith’s debut as interim head coach came in this narrow loss
- Ethan Grunkemeyer, a redshirt freshman, made his first career start
- Penn State’s 0-4 Big Ten record was cemented with this one-point defeat
Week 8: Ohio State 38, Penn State 14
- Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- No. 1 Ohio State dominated Penn State in what was a matchup of a defending playoff contender against an elite program
- Grunkemeyer’s second start resulted in 148 passing yards and an interception
- This game showcased the gap between Penn State’s aspirations and its current reality
Week 9: Indiana 38, Penn State 14
- Location: Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania
- No. 2 Indiana dominated Penn State in Terry Smith’s second home game as interim coach
- The loss dropped Penn State to 3-6 overall and 0-5 in Big Ten play
- This game confirmed that Penn State’s struggles extend beyond individual opponents
What Went Wrong: A Multi-Faceted Collapse
The Quarterback Crisis
The most glaring issue is the dramatic change at quarterback. Drew Allar, who had been the face of the program and one of the nation’s most efficient passers, played only 6 games before suffering a season-ending leg injury against Northwestern.
Allar’s 2025 statistics before injury:
- 1,100 passing yards
- 8 touchdowns
- 3 interceptions
- 64.8% completion percentage
- 135.7 QB rating
These numbers suggest a quarterback playing at an elite level, yet Penn State managed only 3 wins in those six games. When Allar went down, Ethan Grunkemeyer had to step into an impossible situation: learning the offense on the fly while facing some of the nation’s best defenses.
The Coaching Chaos
The timing of James Franklin’s firing on October 12, 2025—just one day after the Northwestern loss—created unprecedented disruption. Franklin’s dismissal, while perhaps inevitable given the circumstances, came during the middle of a season and robbed the team of leadership continuity.
Terry Smith’s 0-2 record as interim head coach includes:
- One extremely close loss (Iowa by 1)
- Two decisive losses to top-ranked opponents (Ohio State and Indiana)
Offensive Line Struggles
Despite having one of the most talented offensive lines in the nation, Penn State’s offense has sputtered. Nick Singleton (296 rushing yards, 7 TDs in 8 games) and Kaytron Allen (736 rushing yards, 10 TDs in 9 games) have continued to produce, but the passing game has deteriorated dramatically after Allar’s injury.
Defensive Inconsistency
While Penn State’s defense has remained relatively competitive, allowing just 21.8 points per game (37th in the nation), it has been unable to generate the game-changing plays needed in close contests.
The Big Ten Landscape
Penn State’s 0-5 record puts them 15th in the Big Ten standings—ahead of only the worst teams in the conference. Meanwhile, rivals like Indiana (8-0) and Ohio State (7-0) are undefeated, and Oregon (7-0) is also dominant.
The gulf between Penn State and the nation’s elite has become painfully obvious. What seemed like a minor setback in September now looks like a fundamental mismatch against Power Four competition.
The Mathematical Path Forward: Bleak Prospects
With the Indiana loss, Penn State now stands at 3-6 overall. To reach bowl eligibility, Penn State must win ALL remaining games:
- Nov. 15: vs. Michigan State — Must win
- Nov. 22: vs. Nebraska — Must win (Senior Day)
- Nov. 29: at Rutgers — Must win
Reality Check: Penn State must run the table with a freshman quarterback and interim head coach. Given the team’s current performance against ranked opponents, bowl eligibility has become highly unlikely.
The margin for error is now zero—any loss eliminates bowl hopes entirely.
Historical Context
This 0-5 start in Big Ten play is a stunning reversal for a program that was supposed to contend for a national championship. Only two years ago, Penn State was in the College Football Playoff. Now, the program is fighting for bowl eligibility.
The combination of:
- Preseason championship aspirations
- 3-0 non-conference start
- Quarterback injury mid-season
- Head coach firing
- Interim head coach learning on the job
- 0-5 Big Ten record
…represents an almost unprecedented collapse in college football.
Looking Ahead
Penn State’s path is clear but extraordinarily difficult. With three winnable games remaining (Indiana, Nebraska, Rutgers), the Nittany Lions have a mathematical chance to salvage their bowl eligibility hopes.
However, the 0-5 Big Ten record serves as a painful reminder that college football’s elite are separated from the rest by a significant gap. Penn State’s fall from championship contender to struggling conference team in just 10 weeks is a sobering lesson in how quickly fortunes can change.
November 7 Update: Program Crossroads
With Franklin officially fired and Terry Smith serving as interim coach, Penn State faces its most significant crossroads since the post-Paterno era. The combination of:
- 0-5 Big Ten record (worst since 2011)
- In-season coaching change
- Quarterback season-ending injury
- Preseason #2 ranking to potential 3-9 final record
…represents an unprecedented collapse in modern college football.
Conclusion
Penn State’s 0-5 Big Ten record reflects a perfect storm of adversity: coaching change, quarterback transition, and losses to elite opponents. Whether the Nittany Lions can win their final three games will define not just the 2025 season, but potentially the trajectory of the program for years to come.
The Big Ten’s most shocking statistic of 2025 is not Indiana’s perfection or Ohio State’s dominance—it’s Penn State’s complete inability to compete at the conference level after preseason expectations of a national championship.