Following a surprising loss to the Northwestern Wildcats, Penn State parted ways with head coach James Franklin, thrusting the program into an unexpected coaching search. With assistant Terry Smith taking over as the interim head coach, the conversation has already shifted to who will permanently lead the Nittany Lions.
Meanwhile, another Big Ten program is facing similar pressure. After a fourth consecutive loss, an embarrassing 37-0 blowout to the Iowa Hawkeyes, Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell is on the hot seat. As speculation swirls around both programs, one controversial name has emerged as a potential replacement for Fickell, while Penn State’s list of top candidates is narrowing.
Could a Controversial Former Coach Replace Luke Fickell?
Following Penn State’s decision to fire Franklin, Dan Wetzel, Rece Davis, and Pete Thamel of “ESPN’s College Gameday” Podcast discussed who they believed would be the next Nittany Lions head coach. During the episode, however, a surprising name emerged in discussing the potential opening at Wisconsin.
“Here’s another name, Pat Fitzgerald. He’s sitting there, and if I’m Wisconsin, I’m crawling to his place. What happened with the lawsuit? He got cleared. I want to hear how he would do it in this era, and he’s a great football coach,” Wetzel suggested.
Fitzgerald was fired from his previous job at Northwestern after a hazing scandal within the football program. He has since agreed to a settlement in his lawsuit against the university. The firing came after allegations of “forced participation in nudity and sexualized acts of a degrading nature.” Fitzgerald ultimately won a lawsuit after confirming he did not know about hazing within the program, and all allegations were dropped.
The podcast hosts revealed that Fitzgerald is ready for a comeback. “I’m told that he’s eager and ready to coach and wants a head coaching job like yesterday. Is there a better, more obvious guy than Pat Fitzergald and Wisconsin?” Davis and Wetzel said during the discussion.
Fitzgerald, who led the Wildcats from 2006-2022, is the team’s longest-tenured and winningest coach. While he has not coached since the 2022 season, this report suggests he could be set for a return.
Who Are the Top Candidates to Replace James Franklin?
Meanwhile, Davis and Wetzel also discussed who they believe will be the next head coach at Penn State. According to BetOnline, the current favorites for the job are Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule and Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady.
Current odds to be the next Penn State Head Coach according to BetOnline:
1- Matt Rhule +200
2- Joe Brady +300
3- Fran Brown +500
4- Curt Cignetti +600
5- Bill O’Brien +700
6- Lane Kiffin +900
7- Matt Campbell +1000
8- Will Stein +1600
9- Jon Gruden +2000
10- Brent Key +2000
11-…
— Adam Breneman (@AdamBreneman81) October 14, 2025
“I would say if I had to make one, I’m gonna say Rhule, because of the Penn State tie, and also because of the fact he also maybe has a wonderful relationship with the new athletic director,” the ESPN insider suggested.
That connection is significant. Penn State’s athletic director, Pat Kraft, has a professional history with Rhule, having previously hired him at Temple. However, a potential roadblock exists in Rhule’s current contract with the Cornhuskers.
For his part, Rhule recently shared his feelings about his alma mater. “I love Penn State. Met my wife there, a fan since I was born. I love Pat Kraft, and I’m really sad to see Coach Franklin go. When you think about what he did for my alma mater, the program was in peril, and he gave stability and excellence,” Rhule shared.
While Rhule was named as a potential option, ESPN insider Pete Thamel named another Matt as a possible replacement for Franklin: Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell. “I’m gonna say it’s one of the Matts, Campbell, or Rhule,” Thamel suggested. According to the betting odds, Campbell is the seventh most likely candidate.
MORE: 5 Landing Spots for James Franklin After Penn State Firing
Each program’s current standing could influence these decisions. In Nebraska, things are looking up. The Cornhuskers have started the season with a strong 5-1 record, are ranked in the Associated Press poll, and have a 10% chance of making the playoffs, according to the updated PFN playoff meter. This success might make Rhule less likely to leave.
On the other hand, Campbell may be more open to a switch to Penn State. His Iowa State team has just a 3% chance at the playoffs, while the Nittany Lions’ season is all but over with quarterback Drew Allar out for the year, potentially making a fresh start appealing.
