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Penn State’s captain opened up about James Franklin’s firing, and it’s gut-wrenching

Related Topics: Terry Smith

Veteran center Nick Dawkins perfectly summed up the feelings in the Nittany Lions' locker room after the complete collapse that led to Franklin's firing.

Penn State v UCLA | Ric Tapia/GettyImages

By now, you know the story. Penn State, coming off a season that ended one drive away from the national championship game, entered the 2025 season as the No. 2 team in the country with a veteran-laden roster and title expectations. Now, seven weeks into the season, James Franklin’s tenure in Happy Valley is done.