The Penn State Nittany Lions’ disappointing 3-3 record has put head coach James Franklin on an increasingly hot seat. With the season slipping away, some are calling for a dramatic change. ESPN analyst Todd McShay has floated a bold, if costly, idea: Penn State should move on from Franklin and make a run at Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti, who has his team undefeated and soaring.
Could Curt Cignetti Really Leave Indiana for Penn State?
During a recent episode of “The McShay Show” on YouTube, the ESPN analyst argued why the Penn State Nittany Lions should fire James Franklin and immediately pursue Curt Cignetti.
“If I’m Penn State and I’m at the very top, I’m firing James Franklin in the next 24 to 48 hours,” McShay said. “And I am making my only priority until it’s absolute, like until there’s no more brush fires out there. So I’ve tried every single different way. And if it becomes extinguished, then it’s extinguished and you move on. I am bringing in Curt Cignetti.”
McShay acknowledged that Cignetti appears committed to turning the Indiana program around, but he suggested Penn State might be the one job that could lure him away.
“I don’t think he wants to leave Indiana. I think he’s thrilled with Indiana. I think he wants to take this Indiana program and shove it up everyone’s a**… I’m not just saying, I think he is IU to his core from like, they gave him a chance and now he’s gonna… But we all have a weakness. There’s a certain sweet out there. There’s a drug, there’s an alcohol, I’m going to go and get myself, everyone’s got one and Penn State might be.”
However, McShay also recognized the significant financial hurdles. Cignetti carries a massive $56.7 million buyout if Indiana were to fire him, which shows how much the program values its coach. If Cignetti chose to leave for another job, he would owe Indiana $13 million. Despite the cost, McShay believes Penn State should exhaust every possible option before considering other candidates.
How Do James Franklin and Curt Cignetti Compare in 2025?
The numbers this season paint a brutal picture for Franklin. The Hoosiers are a perfect 6-0, including a 3-0 record in Big Ten play, while the Nittany Lions have stumbled to 3-3 overall and are winless at 0-3 in the conference.
According to PFSN’s metrics, Indiana’s offense has earned an A- grade with a 90.7 Offense Impact rating. The Hoosiers rank seventh nationally and average an impressive 7.1 yards per play. In contrast, Penn State’s offense grades out at a C+ with a 79.8 Impact score. That performance places them 44th nationally, managing just 6.0 yards per play.
The defensive gap is even more dramatic. Indiana’s defense boasts an A+ grade with a 98.6 Defense Impact rating, ranking first in the country. Cignetti’s stingy unit allows just 4.2 yards per play.
Meanwhile, Franklin’s defense received a C+ with a 79.6 Impact mark, ranking 43rd nationally while giving up 4.4 yards per play. On both sides of the ball, the Nittany Lions have allowed opponents to move the ball more efficiently than the Hoosiers have.
Penn State’s three conference losses have all been painfully close, each decided by six points or fewer. The Nittany Lions lost to Oregon in double overtime, fell at UCLA by five points, and dropped a home game to Northwestern by a single point. These narrow margins have not softened the blow, as Penn State became the first FBS team to lose consecutive games despite being favored by at least 20 points.
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While Franklin’s team struggles, Cignetti has Indiana rolling. The Hoosiers have already beaten Illinois and stunned the third-ranked Oregon Ducks on the road. They are outscoring their opponents by an average of 33 points per game. This success follows an impressive 11-1 campaign in his first season at Indiana in 2024, culminating in a College Football Playoff appearance.
Franklin’s overall resume at Penn State includes a 125-57 record and a Big Ten title, but past achievements mean little now. Under his leadership, the program is experiencing its first three-game conference losing streak, leading fans and analysts to wonder if a change at the top is necessary.
Looking ahead, the schedule offers no relief. Penn State still faces challenging road games at Iowa, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Rutgers. In a twist of fate, Indiana is also set to visit Happy Valley later this season in what could become a direct referendum on both coaches. Franklin needs to find a way to get wins, and fast, to save his job and rescue a season that began with playoff aspirations.