Major College Football Program Loses 19 Commits After Firing Head Coach

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Major College Football Program Loses 19 Commits After Firing Head Coach

With most teams around college football having one or two more regular-season games remaining on the docket, there are already 13 coaching openings across the FBS.

One of the more notable programs to move on from a head coach was the Penn State Nittany Lions, who fired James Franklin after a 3-3 start to a season in which they opened the year as the No. 2 team in the country. While Franklin was fresh off a College Football Playoff appearance and had over 100 wins in his 12 years on the job, it was clear by the program’s decision that the relationship had turned sour. However, that doesn’t mean recruits around the country have moved on from Franklin.

Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin walks on the field.© Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images

Franklin is regarded as one of the best recruiting head coaches in college football, and while Penn State is confident it can find a suitable replacement, the recruits are already fleeing.

As revealed in a social media post by Rivals, the Nittany Lions have lost 19 commits since the firing of Franklin in October, which is the most of any of the programs that parted ways with a head coach.

With Franklin accepting the head coaching job with Virginia Tech earlier in the week, the Hokies instantly have a chance to jump from the No. 119 class in the country to somewhere near the top 25. As for Penn State, its 2026 class sits at No. 80 and may continue to fall.

Related: Lane Kiffin’s Representatives Meet Historic College Football Program: Report

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Nov 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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