Penn State has had a disastrous start to its season. Eight weeks into the season, PSU is currently 15th in the B1G standings. James Franklin is gone, and many potential successors have ruled themselves out of the running. Matt Rhule, the current Nebraska HC, and Penn State, who many viewed as the favorite to take over from Franklin, dashed any hopes of his return. “I love the community, and I wanted to live here, and I love it here,” Rhule said of Nebraska when asked about his future. And now, apparently, the Nittany Lions have turned their attention to another candidate.

Adam Breneman took to X to share his opinion on who should replace Franklin. He named Alabama’s HC Kalen DeBoer as his choice for the position. The post read, “The more I think about it, the more I like Kalen DeBoer as a Penn State candidate. Do we know if he’s happy at Alabama?”, enticing a question: Is Kalen DeBoer a good fit at Penn State?

Well, there is little to argue against the prospect. Kalen DeBoer has done a great job at Alabama this season. Currently, the Crimson Tide stands at 3rd in the SEC with a 5-1 record. So, why would he go to a struggling Penn State? Adam Breneman thinks it’s because PSU has a “clear path to the playoffs every year in the Big Ten”. PSU is a major football program, so they can pay out Kalen DeBoer’s $87 million buyout. But the reasons could be more than just that.

Alabama is a very serious program. The expectations for the Crimson Tide are high, especially because of the success that they tasted for 17 years under legendary HC Nick Saban. It’s not like Kalen DeBoer has a bad record, but he hasn’t won any trophies yet in his reign. Last year, he finished with a 9-4 record, had some impressive wins (41-34 win over Georgia). But he missed out on the playoffs, which was perceived as a major disappointment by the fans.

So, if Alabama repeats the same this season, chances are Kalen DeBoer could face the boot. If it happens, then Adam Breneman’s wish could come true. Kalen De Boer could be the favorite to replace James Franklin, now that Curt Cignetti has signed an 8-year contract with the Hoosiers.

Curt Cignetti receives a huge contract after Indiana’s successful start

While HC questions are rising in Penn State and Alabama (possibly), the Hoosiers seem not to doubt their choice. After a 6-0 start, Curt Cignetti’s men sit at the top of the B1G conference. As a result, Indiana has decided to keep their main man at the helm for another eight years with a contract extension.

The contract extension will see him earn 11.6 million a year. In total, the HC will earn a lump sum of $92.8 million. The extension increased his compensation by about $3.6 million annually over the prior figure. This deal makes Curt Cignetti one of the highest-paid coaches in college football. Reports cite him as the third-highest-paid coach, only behind Kirby Smart and Ryan Day.

The contract is much lucrative than his previous one, which was also an 8-year deal and saw him earn $8 million per year. That was in 2024 and reportedly included $1 million a year in retention bonus. That was already an indication of how much Indiana believed in Curt Cignetti. He has repaid the faith by making Indiana a top side. So, a contract extension is a gesture of gratitude from the program.