The Penn State Nittany Lions, coached by James Franklin, just suffered their second loss of the early 2025 collegiate football season. On Saturday, Oct. 4, coach Franklin and Co. succumbed to defeat to the once winless UCLA Bruins, coached by interim tactician Tom Skipper, by five points, 42-37, in away territory in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, in what many consider the biggest upset of the year thus far.
Fans and spectators then offered what kind of stipulation may come Franklin’s way in different hilarious memes.
James Franklin catching the flight back to Penn State pic.twitter.com/on5zYDQp0r
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) October 4, 2025
James Franklin when he lands back in Pennsylvania
pic.twitter.com/pHmjT47qYz— Arslan (@thega1nz) October 4, 2025
James Franklin on the bus in Happy Valley tonight: pic.twitter.com/2xGaIeVjru
— Franklin Fingerstein (@FFingerstein) October 4, 2025
The Penn State faithful have shown their doubts over Franklin as their football program’s head coach, and are calling for his firing.
James Franklin tomorrow morning pic.twitter.com/vJHqEISUC0
— The Buckeye Nut (@TheBuckeyeNut) October 4, 2025
Retweet this if you think James Franklin should be FIRED tonight. pic.twitter.com/ipDNDSayQO
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) October 4, 2025
When the “James Franklin fired” headline hits tomorrow morning 😍 pic.twitter.com/9N5DwDShjv
— The Penn State Troll 🦁🧌 (@ThePSUTroll) October 4, 2025
James Franklin and Steve Sarkisian fighting for the FAU job next season
— Old Row Sports (@OldRowSports) October 4, 2025
James Franklin addressing his team in the locker room next season
— Old Row Sports (@OldRowSports) October 4, 2025
Several users all over X/Twitter are just flabbergasted at the fact that the Nittany Lions lost to the Bruins, especially since they have national championship aspirations.
No way James Franklin getting outcoached by Joffrey Lannister. pic.twitter.com/wqDbudTSVw
— The Dawgzilla (@TheDawgzilla) October 4, 2025
James Franklin realizing if he loses to UCLA they can’t say he only loses the big games anymore pic.twitter.com/dePIXHzZ7t
— Ben Rasa (@JazzrazBets) October 4, 2025
James Franklin on the sideline watching his team get eliminated from playoff contention pic.twitter.com/ZLHl7MCDLt
— Tony Roundtree (@Tonywithyy) October 4, 2025
The Bruins have not exactly had the best year, as a part from their winless start to this year’s campaign, they also fired second-year coach DeShaun Foster three games into it. Even with coach Skipper assuming a bigger role unexpectedly, they were still able to defeat a more tenured team, such as coach Franklin and the Nittany Lions. UCLA now holds a 1-4 overall record thus far.
James Franklin And The Penn State Nittany Lions Have Now Lost Back-To-Back Games
Unfortunately for coach James Franklin and the Penn State Nittany Lions, the loss to the UCLA Bruins merits their second straight defeat of the season. Just recently in week four on Saturday, Sept. 27, Penn State was beaten by the Oregon Ducks in a thrilling double overtime affair by six points, 30-24. The Nittany Lions now falter to a 3-2 record after a blazing 3-0 start to the campaign.
Coach Franklin and his team now pursue a return to the win column when they take on the Northwestern Wildcats for week six on Saturday, Oct. 11, back on their home pitch, Beaver Stadium.
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