Penn State's James Franklin shares emotional hug with daughters in last game possibly

The Penn State head coach had another bad loss to Northwestern that could finally get him fired.

Penn State head football coach James Franklin hugs his daughter, Shola Franklin, following a game against Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct.14, 2023, in State College, Pennsylvania. The Nittany Lions won, 63-0. | Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK

By the time you read this, James Franklin might have already been fired as the Penn State Nittany Lions football head coach.

After back-to-back embarrassing losses to UCLA and Northwestern at home, 22-21, becoming the first HC in 30 years to suffer two defeats in a row as a 20-point favorite, every Happy Valley fan wants Franklin, 53, fired, even though he has the ninth-highest buyout for any CFB coach at $56.66 million.

RELATED: Lane Kiffin gets emotional Landry ditches Ole Miss for Whit Weeks' LSU game

Nov 30, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin walks with his daughters Addy and Shola prior to the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Beaver Stadium. | Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

The sad-looking Pennsylvania native lingered on the field at Beaver Stadium as if he knew this would be his last game with Penn State, with cameras awkwardly in his face like they knew it too. (To add insult to injury, literally, quarterback Drew Allar also suffered a season-ending injury.)

RELATED: Steve Sarkisian’s wife Loreal turns heads in mismatching Texas fit for Oklahoma game

Crying at the cameraman getting right in James Franklin’s face after the loss 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/ZztiyrOqLn

— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) October 11, 2025

After the game, Franklin shared emotional hugs with his daughters Shola and Addison, better known as Addy, which is the usual after-the-game ritual, but it seemed to take on extra gravitas with his job in jeopardy.

Franklin and his daughters also share the same pregame ritual of holding hands and doing a lap around the field as they enter the stadium.

Coach James Franklin is consoled by his family after Penn State lost 22-21 to Northwestern in the Nittany Lions’ Homecoming game Saturday in Beaver Stadium pic.twitter.com/xtWkHY9hXM

— Mike Poorman (@PSUPoorman) October 11, 2025

It was a similar scene in the College Football Playoff last season when Penn State blew the game late against Notre Dame with a shot to go the national championship game, and it was Addison who was upset before Franklin had to deal with running back Nick Singleton losing his cool coming out of the locker room after such a heartbreaking loss.

James Franklin makes his way to the locker room beside his daughter. A frustrated Nick Singleton emerges from the doorway. pic.twitter.com/qadBYPABKF

— Seth Engle (@bigsengtweets) January 10, 2025

Unfortunately for Franklin and his girls, this might be their last time sharing these touching moments outside of the locker room at Beaver Stadium, unless it's one day on the visitors' side, with dad coaching another team.

— Enjoy free dish of rich and fabulous players with The Athlete Lifestyle on SI —

New beginnings: Molly Qerim rocks stylish fit in first gig since ESPN departure

Only Philly win: Alec Bohm’s ESPN gf Erin Dolan stuns in Phillies cheerleader fit

Mama knows best: Jaxson Dart’s mom Kara turns heads on Giants sidelines

What’s the deal?: Jayden Daniels, JuJu relationship question answered finally

Grown up: Kobe Bryant’s daughter Natalia’s all-black fit has Ciara exclaim 2 words