When Penn State parted ways with long-time head coach James Franklin just six weeks into the 2025 season, the program quickly set its sights on Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin as the top target to replace him.
While the Nittany Lions would undoubtedly love to land Kiffin, FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt believes scheduling concerns could leave the program in limbo regarding hiring him. With Kiffin likely out of reach, Klatt named two other potential candidates who could step in as head coach in Happy Valley.
Who Are Penn State’s Top Candidates With Lane Kiffin in Limbo?
Nearly every Power Four program in the country with a coaching vacancy is targeting Kiffin as its next head coach. If the Nittany Lions want to land him, they’ll not only have to compete with schools like Florida and LSU, but there could also be another hurdle in making it happen.
On “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” Klatt explained that with Ole Miss looking like a playoff team, Kiffin could be coaching into January, which is when the transfer portal window opens. If Kiffin is still coaching, he won’t have time to build a roster, which could deter him from taking the Penn State job.
“Well, here’s the problem: If Ole Miss goes into the playoff and they play in the second and the third round, Lane’s still coaching at Ole Miss during the transfer portal window being open, so he doesn’t even have the ability to build a roster,” Klatt said.
It’s a solid point from Klatt. As of today, PFSN’s CFB Playoff Meter gives the Rebels a 93.25% chance to make the College Football Playoff (CFP). The transfer portal window officially opens on January 2, while the CFP semifinals don’t start until January 9.
As good a coach as Kiffin is, there’s no point in Penn State hiring him if he can’t utilize the transfer portal, and Kiffin himself likely wouldn’t be interested in taking the job if he misses that window.
With Kiffin’s January schedule largely unknown, Klatt named two other candidates: USF head coach Alex Golesh and Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline. Klatt explained that both have been linked to Penn State’s coaching search, and neither would be tied down in January.
“I would look at guys like an Alex Golesh at South Florida, who’s done a heck of a job at South Florida, that could be a name that’s popped up,” Klatt said. “I think Brian Hartline is a name, the assistant coach at Ohio State, that’s going to pop up.”
He continued, “These guys that could potentially move before the transfer portal window and not be tied to a team that’s still playing in the middle of January.”While Golesh and Hartline aren’t Kiffin, they’re still viable options for the Nittany Lions. Golesh has transformed USF into one of the top programs in the American Conference, and Hartline has been a key member of Ohio State’s staff dating back to the Urban Meyer era.
In today’s college football landscape, the transfer portal is essential to any team’s success. If Kiffin is unavailable when it opens for Penn State, the Nittany Lions will need to look elsewhere, and Golesh and Hartline are solid options.
