Penn State University has firmly stated that Adidas played no role in the recent firing of head football coach James Franklin and wants to clarify this point unequivocally.
Speculation arose on Sunday suggesting that Adidas, the university’s new apparel partner, was involved in covering Franklin’s hefty $49 million buyout. However, Penn State swiftly rebuffed this claim on Monday, labeling it as “patently false.”
“This decision was made solely by Penn State,” the university elaborated to Front Office Sports. “Adidas is not helping to pay the buyout for Coach Franklin,” they asserted, emphasizing their full control over the situation.
The university’s agreement with Adidas, which reportedly amounts to $300 million over a 10-year period starting in 2026, marks the end of a long-standing partnership with Nike. In light of recent events, the Penn State Board of Trustees released a statement aimed at addressing “rumors and misinformation” surrounding both the departure of Franklin and the impending partnership with Adidas.
Franklin, aged 53, was let go on Sunday following a surprising 22-21 loss at home to Northwestern, which was his team’s third consecutive defeat. This buyout is among the largest in college football history, second only to Jimbo Fisher’s exit from Texas A&M for $76 million.
The significant size of Franklin’s exit package has drawn criticism from various quarters within the university community. Some feel it reflects poorly on Penn State’s financial priorities, especially in light of budget constraints faced by the institution.
“It’s a slap in the face to everyone who was told their campus is too expensive and not good enough to keep open,” stated Heather Page, a librarian at Penn State Fayette, expressing her frustration in a conversation with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
During his tenure, Franklin accumulated an impressive record of 104 wins against 45 losses, tying him for second on the all-time wins list at Penn State. Interim head coaching duties will be assumed by associate head coach Terry Smith as athletic director Patrick Kraft embarks on a nationwide search for Franklin’s replacement.
As it stands, the institution remains steadfast in its position: while Adidas may be supplying the team uniforms, they will not be contributing to Franklin’s buyout.
