James Franklin agreed to stay with Penn State until the 2031 season by signing a new 10-year contract three years ago that will pay him $7.5 million annually with incentives. A portion of Franklin’s contract was changed on Friday.
Franklin’s contract was amended to include performance incentives in order to accommodate the 12-team College Football Playoff. Compared to the 2014–23 four-team structure, the CFP now consists of one extra game starting this year.
According to a university official, the Penn State Committee on Equity and Human Resources unanimously decided to amend Franklin’s contract on Friday morning.
The precise changes to Franklin’s incentive payouts are not yet known. The following CFP-related incentives were given to Franklin as part of the 2021 contract iteration:
Reaching the CFP for four teams: $400,000.
Runner-up in the CFP national championship: $500,000.
Winner of the CFP national championship: $800,000.
With a national ranking of No. 4, Penn State is well-positioned to qualify for the first 12-team CFP. The Nittany Lions are 7-1 in Big Ten play and 10-1 overall.
The Nittany Lions are virtually assured of a postseason berth and a first-round home game at Beaver Stadium if they defeat Maryland on Saturday (3:30 p.m., Big Ten Network).
Stories by
Johnny McGonigal
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