Less than a month after being fired by the Penn State Nittany Lions for a disappointing start to the 2025-26 season, former coach James Franklin has been linked to several of the top jobs in college football. Before his dismissal, Franklin compiled a 104-45 record and five bowl wins in Happy Valley, which explains the significant clamor for his services.
The college football landscape has undergone a significant shift, with elite head coaching jobs at programs such as the Florida Gators, Auburn Tigers, and LSU Tigers all becoming vacant ahead of the upcoming season.
What Role Will James Franklin’s Agent Play in His Next Move?
In recent weeks, Franklin has been strongly connected to two prominent openings: the Virginia Tech job, which has become vacant following the firing of former coach Brent Pry, and the Arkansas Razorbacks job, now open following the dismissal of Sam Pittman. The Arkansas position is particularly attractive, as the Razorbacks’ NIL collective ranks as the 17th largest in the nation at $11.5 million, according to 247Sports. This financial backing makes the job in Fayetteville a significant draw for top coaching candidates.
During a recent segment of the “Aaron Torres” podcast, analyst Aaron Torres discussed the pivotal role that infamous agent Jimmy Sexton, who represents Franklin, could play in the former Penn State coach’s future, particularly concerning the Arkansas opening (36:45).
“James Franklin, I find it hard to see him committing anywhere because he doesn’t know what his options are going to be,” Torres said. “Once he decides where he wants to go, Jimmy Sexton is going to use James Franklin as leverage to get his other clients, other jobs and to get James Franklin what he wants at his current job.”
Torres continued, “If he wants Arkansas, Sexton is gonna use the national media. Whatever Sexton wants them to say, they’re gonna say. Let’s say Franklin is on the one-yard line with Arkansas, you don’t think Sexton is gonna leak, ‘He could be at Auburn tomorrow’ to get more leverage in the situation? Nothing on James Franklin is gonna get done until that Thanksgiving weekend.”
Sexton’s influence in the sport is undeniable. The renowned agent represents seven of the 10 highest-paid coaches in college football and 14 of the 16 head coaches in the SEC. Additionally, he has negotiated NFL contracts valued at a staggering $3 billion.
One of the primary criticisms leveled against Franklin during his time at Penn State was his 4-21 record against top-10 teams and a 1-18 record against top-10 conference opponents. Despite the scrutiny he faced, Franklin led the Nittany Lions to double-digit wins in six of his 11 full seasons and guided the team to the College Football Playoff semifinals in the 2024-25 season.
