Penn State Can't Afford a James Franklin 2.0
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The Nittany Lions will be led by interim head coach Terry Smith and first-time starting quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer against the Hawkeyes.
James Franklin’s $49-plus million buyout could soon look like chump change. Mike Norvell’s rump now roasts on the hot seat after a fourth consecutive loss, and his buyout would check in at more than $58 million at season’s end.
Penn State and Iowa meet on Saturday for the 33rd time and first since the Nittany Lions’ 31-0 shutout victory in the 2023 White Out game at Beaver Stadium. It’s also Penn State’s first game without head coach James Franklin since 2014, so it’s difficult to know what to expect.
And boom, a Penn State motto was born. “LTFI” graced T-shirts, hats, social media posts and more. Even high-dollar defensive coordinator Jim Knowles got in on the craze after signing his contract this past offseason.
Kickoff from the Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa, is at 7 p.m. ET. The Hawkeyes are 3-point favorites in the latest Penn State vs. Iowa odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 40.5 via SportsLine consensus. Before making any Iowa vs. Penn State picks, check out the college football predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model .