James Franklin’s journey with the Penn State Nittany Lions came to an end despite his consistent top-15 finishes. Unlike most fired coaches, he maintained strong winning records, but his lack of postseason success and struggles in big games ultimately led to his exit.
However, Franklin has made it clear that he wants to return to coaching, and his proven track record makes him a good candidate for several programs. As of now, the former PSU HC stands out as the most eligible option currently linked to the Virginia Tech Hokies.
CFB Analyst Shares Update on James Franklin’s Connection to Virginia Tech
With nine Power Four head coaching positions currently open, college football analyst Andy Staples joined former NFL player Ross Tucker to discuss Franklin’s potential with Virginia Tech.
“James Franklin’s gonna have options if he thought his best option was Virginia Tech and Virginia Tech was offering the job, he would have already taken it,” Staples said (4:10).
Besides Virginia Tech and Arkansas, Franklin has also been connected to the Southeastern Conference schools like Auburn, following Hugh Freeze’s dismissal. Staples also mentioned more SEC roles for Franklin, including the Kentucky Wildcats.
Meanwhile, several prominent analysts like FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt have linked Franklin to Virginia Tech, with Klatt saying that Franklin maintains close ties to the program. ESPN’s Pete Thamel also said that Virginia Tech officials are feeling “urgency” to close a deal with Franklin before other major openings arise.
According to USA Today’s Paul Myerberg, Virginia Tech plans to boost its athletics budget by roughly $229 million over the next four years. This move is expected to make the school more appealing to high-profile candidates such as Franklin.
Myerberg also said that the Hokies’ option might be interesting to Franklin because of an easier path to the playoff compared to the Big Ten. It would also allow him to recruit in the same regions that once fueled Penn State’s success under his leadership.
Meanwhile, Virginia Tech was heavily seen as the frontrunner for Franklin’s next destination initially, but Arkansas is making a late push. The Razorbacks also reportedly got a request from Franklin, as Trey Biddy of HawgSports revealed.
“I was told James Franklin wants to know he has at least $30 million to spend on a roster,” Biddy said. “Two sources tell me that the interest between Arkansas and Franklin is very much legit. There has been contact there.”
Penn State is ranked No. 55 in the PFSN CFB Playoff Meter and owes Franklin around $49 million, which is the second-largest buyout in college football history. He has a “duty to mitigate” clause in his contract that requires him to explore other coaching jobs.
