College GameDay stunned as James Franklin enters early talks to coach Virginia Tech
James Franklin is in early talks to become Virginia Tech’s next head coach. GameDay reports mutual interest as the Hokies search for a proven program builder.
This morning, journalist Pete Thamel delivered the kind of news that ESPN College GameDay is built for. Sitting alongside Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, Nick Saban, and Kirk Herbstreit, the ESPN insider broke major news on former Penn State head coach James Franklin’s future. “Former Penn State coach James Franklin and Virginia Tech are engaged in the early stages of talks about him becoming the next Virginia Tech head coach,” Thamel said. “Resolution on his candidacy at Virginia Tech is expected in the coming days. I can confirm mutual interest in a potential resolution early next week.”
What Thamel’s report means for Franklin and Virginia Tech
The reaction on set was immediate. Howard reminded viewers that the panel had already floated Virginia Tech as Franklin’s next landing spot. “We were speculating a few weeks ago. That was the spot. We talked about James Franklin, how he would fit perfectly in the community and getting that program back up.” Herbstreit backed it up with a simple point. “If you focus on what he has done, how many games he has won rather than what he didn’t do in terms of beating ranked teams, this would be a great hire for Virginia Tech.”
Saban echoed that sentiment. “They would get a class guy and a class coach who would be very successful, I am sure.”
The conversation shifted to the bigger picture in Blacksburg as McAfee noted that Virginia Tech has committed major resources to rebuilding the athletic department. “They have committed. They’re going in like 250 million over the next few years in sports.” He also pointed out a ripple effect that Tech fans will love. “James Franklin, now in the ACC, if he goes to Virginia Tech, is going to be forced to play Pitt.” That led to a joking jab at Franklin’s old school. “Penn State’s scared of Pitt, bro.”
The panel also referenced Franklin’s earlier appearance on GameDay after his firing. Howard recalled Franklin telling the crew what he learned during his Penn State tenure and how he planned to use it. “He talked about what he learned at Penn State and how he is going to use that to win a national championship at his next stop.” That ambition lines up with what Franklin told ESPN after being let go. “I thought we were gonna win a national championship there. We were close. That goal has not changed. We are just gonna go win a national championship somewhere else now.”
For Virginia Tech, Franklin’s appeal is obvious. The program fired Brent Pry after an 0-3 start and a 16-24 record. They have reached ten wins only once in the last fourteen seasons. Boosters told GameDay they have been eyeing Franklin as their top choice for weeks. As McAfee put it, “It sounds like we are on our way.”
Franklin’s critics can point to his .160 record against AP top ten teams, but his supporters can point to the 104 wins at Penn State, the turnaround at Vanderbilt and the consistency that kept the Nittany Lions in the national conversation. If these talks reach a deal, Virginia Tech gets a proven rebuilder and Franklin gets the fresh start he has been waiting for. Everything about this moment suggests the momentum is real.
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