Since James Franklin left the Happy Valley, his name has been linked with every coaching job possible. After all, his Penn State was a couple of plays away from reaching the championship game last year. The former Nitty Lions head coach’s fortunes took a turn this season, and after a 3-3 start, he found himself $49M richer but without a coaching job.
But that won’t be long. If Kirk Herbstreit is to be believed, the college football world will see Franklin in an official capacity soon.
Kirk Herbstreit Has An Idea Where James Franklin Wants To Go Next
Herbstreit shared his candid opinion of Franklin when he appeared on the latest episode of “Nonstop”. He believed it was a matter of mere weeks before the fans would spot him on the field.
Herbstreit said, “Oh, he is gonna be a head coach in a few weeks.”
While Franklin left Penn State with an overall 104-45 record, he couldn’t find ways to beat top teams. A 4-21 against top teams always remained a cling in his armor, and his team always seemed to falter whenever it mattered the most. However, for teams like Virginia Tech, Franklin still offers a chance to be competitive and challenge for the ACC title.
Besides, Franklin’s addition might help Virginia Tech recruit better. Hokies have a national rank of 104th in the 2026 recruiting class, and they are 17th in the ACC, as per On3. Herbstreit also sees Franklin fixing Virginia Tech’s recruiting by being a coach who could help recruits reach their potential.
“This guy can coach, this guy can recruit, this guy can develop. He’s in the ACC. If he builds a program anywhere close to what he had at Penn State, we are winning 11 and 12 every year,” Herbstreit added.
“We are competing for the ACC Championship every year. If he does what he did at Penn State and he brings it at Blacksburg, we are in the mix every year.”
The same standards were not enough at Penn State. But for Herbstreit, when he put himself in the Virginia Tech shoes, he found no issue with it. The Penn State AD, Patrick Kraft, was clear when he removed Franklin that they wanted to compete at the national championship level.
According to the PFSN Playoff Meter, Virginia Tech is predicted to end the season with four wins. Getting hold of a head coach of Franklin’s caliber might be a win for the program, as they can then look to build for the future.
With more than 12 head coaching positions open now, especially after Auburn’s breakup with Hugh Freeze, no name is off any program’s hot board. But Franklin might enjoy a new life at Virginia Tech, one with lesser expectations compared to the SEC and the Big Ten.