ESPN’s Rece Davis takes a guess at who will replace James Franklin as the head coach at Penn State
The Penn State Nittany Lions are searching for a new head coach after firing James Franklin on Sunday. Franklin had been the head coach at Penn State for over a decade.
The Penn State Nittany Lions are in the market for a new head football coach after surprisingly firing James Franklin on Sunday.
Franklin, who had been the head coach at Penn State since 2014, was fired following a 3-3 start.
It was clear that Franklin was on the hot seat after the Nittany Lions dropped three games in a row to Oregon, UCLA, and Northwestern. It was still a bit surprising, however, to see a coach who came within one game of a national championship appearance last year get fired so early in the season.
Penn State made the move in large part because it realized that Franklin was never going to win a championship in Happy Valley.
“My understanding from talking to people was they did not win a championship — well they hadn’t won a Big 10 Championship since 2016,” explained ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Sunday. “And [Franklin’s] big game failures…they were very real and searing. That, combined with the free fall this year, gave the brass at Penn State the realization that it’s not going to happen under James Franklin after 12 years, and they made a move.”
ESPN’s Rece Davis guesses who Penn State will hire to replace James Franklin
ESPN’s Rece Davis reluctantly guessed this week’s ESPN College Football Podcast on who will replace Franklin at Penn State. Davis went with Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule as his prediction for who replaces Franklin.
“I would say, if I had to make one (a prediction), if you had to dance around it, I’m going to say Rhule – because of the Penn State ties,” said Davis.
Rhule was a linebacker at Penn State from 1994 to 1997. He’s also extremely close with Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft (Rhule and Kraft worked together at Temple for four seasons).
That’s a pretty solid guess from Davis. I have no idea how this coaching search will play out — I don’t think anyone knows right now where this search will go — but Rhule, at least for now, certainly seems like the favorite to replace Franklin.
Penn State Nittany Lions News
Penn State head coach hot board: Options to replace James Franklin after he was fired by the Nittany Lions
The Penn State Nittany Lions fired head coach James Franklin on Sunday following consecutive losses to UCLA and Northwestern.
