Oct 11, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin stands on the field following the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-1284026 ORIG FILE ID: 20251011_szo_bm2_0271.JPG

To say this season hasn't been ideal for Penn State football would be an understatement. Saturday's Week 11 home game against No. 2 Indiana almost delivered a big bright spot in an otherwise forgettable season. ALMOST.

About halfway through the fourth quarter at home in Happy Valley, the Nittany Lions — who had been trailing for most of the game — scored a 19-yard touchdown to take a 24-20 lead. It was looking like the Hoosiers would lose their first game of the season, while Penn State was poised to win its first Big Ten game of 2025. Plus, there was the hilarious potential to beat a top-5 team after Penn State kicked James Franklin and his earned reputation for not winning The Big Game to the curb earlier this season.

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However, despite not being able to pull away from a now-3-6 Nittany Lions team, Indiana is the real deal with Heisman Trophy candidate Fernando Mendoza slinging the ball. With less than a minute left in the game, Mendoza found wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. in the back of the end zone, scoring the game-winning touchdown thanks to a wild toe-tap from Cooper.

Indiana held on for the 27-24 victory, and Penn State losing a heartbreaker to a top team felt all too familiar after Franklin, who, with the Nittany Lions, had a 4-21 record against AP top-10 teams and a 1-18 record against top-10 Big Ten teams in conference matchups. Per ESPN, he also had a 1-15 record against AP top-5 teams after losing to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff last season.

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Penn State hasn't beaten a top-10 Big Ten opponent since 2016 when it topped Ohio State, as ESPN noted in a story about Franklin's poor record in big games contributing to his firing.

So yeah, James Franklin is no longer with Penn State, but that didn't spare him from being the butt of many jokes after the Hoosiers held on for the win.

Don't feel bad for Franklin, though. He still has a nearly $50 million buyout to comfort him.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Fans still roasted James Franklin after Penn State nearly beat top-5 team

Reporting by Michelle R. Martinelli, For The Win / For The Win

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