The other 2 were average Washington and Memphis teams ranked outside the Top-10.
Brian Kelly had a winning record against Top-25 and Top-10 teams. He won about half those games. James Franklin had an overwhelmingly losing record against Top-25 and Top-10 teams, including when his team's ranking was close to those opponents. Penn State plays a joke schedule every year. They get ranked from dunking on midmajors and shitty BIG teams, and lose every game they play against quality opponents. For all of Brian Kelly's difficulties defeating Top-5 teams, he won more than he lost against good teams.
I strongly dislike BK, but he has a much better record against good competition than JF. Neither has been able to beat great teams, but Kelly's record at ND and LSU is far better than Franklin's at PSU.
James Franklin (until this year) is probably the most overrated coach in CFB. Now he is just "rated" because he was the first notable coach to be fired.
Replies to: "JF can't hold BK's jockstrap. Only one of JF's NY6 Bowl wins was a Top-10 Team (Utah 8th)."
- Just suppose...what if Penn St. players refused to play unless Franklin was reinstated? - MarkHarman - 1:03am 10/13/25
(14) [View All]
- Just like in the movie Hoosiers? [NT]
[LINK]
- Shadow_of_the_Dome - 4:06pm 10/13/25
- Gotta have a "Chitwood" though... [NT] - TakethetrainKnute - 9:11am 10/14/25
- More realistic: players refuse to play in a bowl game without additional $$$ [NT] - LanceManion - 8:46am 10/13/25
- The sympathy for Franklin here is bizarre. - MAS - 7:40am 10/13/25
- I really don't disagree with most of the points you've made. - jakers - 11:11am 10/13/25
- Kick them when they’re down but don’t kill them syndrome. [NT] - whatsamataU - 10:57am 10/13/25
- Kelly had a similar situation in 2016 - ndunabomber - 9:35am 10/13/25
- JF can't hold BK's jockstrap. Only one of JF's NY6 Bowl wins was a Top-10 Team (Utah 8th). - Turkish - 10:35am 10/13/25
- I think you're missing my point - MarkHarman - 8:30am 10/13/25
- How'd that turn out? There also is NIL at play, and no admin is going to let the inmates run the as - WestCoastIrishFan - 8:31am 10/13/25
- I agree...though I understand wanting him to remain THERE. - TakethetrainKnute - 7:50am 10/13/25
- Forget about any of us knowing he ws done... - MAS - 7:51am 10/13/25
- You could see it quite clearly on his face as the game was ending... [NT] - TakethetrainKnute - 8:56am 10/13/25
- Forget about any of us knowing he ws done... - MAS - 7:51am 10/13/25
- By the looks of it they weren't playing anyways, so that leverage went away a while ago. [NT] - Clem - 5:09am 10/13/25
- Just like in the movie Hoosiers? [NT]
[LINK]
- Shadow_of_the_Dome - 4:06pm 10/13/25