When James Franklin was fired at Penn State, he went on ESPN College GameDay and made it clear that he wanted to coach again, and he sounded like someone who wanted to do it as early as 2026. He's getting his chance.
Six weeks after the appearance, he was hired at Virginia Tech, replacing his former defensive coordinator, Brent Pry, as the head coach. It was a tremendous hire for the school and program. He has already made a significant impact in recruiting, securing a Top 25 class for the Class of 2026, and is expected to remain active in the Transfer Portal.