James Franklin Nearing Agreement To Become Next Virginia Tech Head Coach
James Franklin, fresh off his unceremonious exit from Happy Valley, is already being wined and dined, and it looks like Virginia Tech is picking up the tab. Let’s call it what it is: the college football coaching carousel is spinning faster than a Tilt-a-Whirl at the state fair, and Franklin is the guy everyone wants to ride with. Just days after being shown the door at Penn State, sources tell ESPN that Franklin is in “early talks” with Virginia Tech.
It seems the Hokies, who parted ways with Brent Pry after a disastrous start to their season, are looking for a big name to inject some life back into their program. And let’s be honest, Franklin is nothing if not a big name.
So, Is Franklin the Answer For Virginia Tech?
For a program starving for relevance like Virginia Tech, hiring Franklin feels like a no-brainer. The Hokies haven’t sniffed a 10-win season since 2016. Meanwhile, Franklin practically made double-digit wins his morning coffee at Penn State, hitting that mark six times. He even brought a Big Ten Championship and a College Football Playoff appearance to a program that was still shaking off the remnants of a major scandal. That’s a resume that makes athletic directors drool.
Even the master himself, Nick Saban, gave his seal of approval. On College GameDay, Saban essentially told Virginia Tech to stop thinking and start signing. “This would be a great hire for Virginia Tech,” he said, calling Franklin a “class guy and a class coach.” When the GOAT of college coaching gives you a glowing reference, you listen.
Why Wouldn’t Franklin Be a Slam Dunk?
But hold your horses, Hokie nation. Let’s not pretend Franklin is walking on water. The man was just fired for a reason. His record against top-10 teams at Penn State was, to put it kindly, abysmal. We’re talking a 4-21 record that would make even the Cleveland Browns blush. The losses weren’t just losses; they were soul-crushing, hope-extinguishing defeats that left fans wondering if he could ever win the big one.
And that’s the million-dollar question for Virginia Tech. Are they hiring the guy who turned Vanderbilt into a respectable program and consistently won 10 games a year? Or are they getting the coach who couldn’t get over the hump against elite competition? It’s a high-risk, high-reward gamble. If he can bring his recruiting prowess and program-building skills to Blacksburg, he could be the savior they’ve been praying for. But if his big-game jitters follow him, it could just be another chapter of frustratingly close-but-no-cigar football.
One thing’s for sure: this move would send shockwaves through the ACC. The Franklin era might be over at Penn State, but the next, perhaps more unpredictable, chapter is just beginning.
