Penn State football fans don't know what to do as the Terry Smith era starts off with a loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes.

The James Franklin era at Penn State came to an end last weekend when the Nittany Lions fired their coach of 12 years. Franklin left an indelible mark on the program in nearly all the right ways, rebuilding it into a perennial Big Ten and national championship contender after a period of turmoil.

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.

Gone are the days of Florida State and Clemson dominating the league, with programs like Virginia and Georgia Tech now having a real shot at the College Football Playoff via the ACC Championship Game. There’s no reason why Virginia Tech couldn’t return to that conversation with the right coach.

Although many fans across social media applauded Franklin's bravery for appearing on a show that draws in millions of viewers just days after being fired, former ESPN NFL draft analyst Todd McShay did not share the same sentiment about Franklin. McShay unloaded a scathing message about Franklin, calling it "image protection."