James Franklin’s name is heating up fast for an unexpected college football job after being fired by Penn State
That would be a quick move by the former Penn State head coach.
The college football landscape is always evolving. Changes come fast in this sport, and we’ve seen that with the Penn State Nittany Lions’ decision to fire James Franklin. Penn State started the year ranked No. 2 but now sits at 3-4, with interim head coach Terry Smith leading the program.
Franklin will receive roughly $48 million in his buyout from Penn State after serving as the head coach for 12 seasons, including this year. However, Franklin may not be unemployed for long in the college football world, and things could move quickly.
James Franklin could be making a move to the ACC
According to Evan Watkins of 247Sports, the “hot name” in the search for Virginia Tech’s next head coach is none other than Franklin. While this appears to be in the early stages, there is reportedly mutual interest between Franklin and the Hokies in making this happen.
It’s worth noting that Franklin had success at Vanderbilt before taking the job at Penn State, where he coached from 2011 through 2013. During his tenure with the Nittany Lions, Franklin consistently kept Penn State in Big Ten contention, posting six double-digit win seasons. He compiled a 104–45 record, a mark Virginia Tech would love to reach. Franklin’s downfall at Penn State stemmed from his inability to get the program over the hump.
Virginia Tech hasn’t reached double-digit wins since 2016 and hasn’t been nationally relevant since around 2011. Franklin has shown he can elevate a program to prominence and keep it there — as he did in State College. Some coaches can’t stay away from the sidelines for long, no matter how much cash they’re raking in. That might be the case again for Franklin, who could find himself back as a head coach sooner rather than later.
Ohio State Buckeyes News
Ohio State Buckeyes have a position battle that’ll play out this week in practice ahead of playing Penn State
This one will be key for the Buckeyes.
