James Franklin’s “Can’t Win the Big One” problem at Penn State isn’t new, but now even the smaller ones are slipping away. Franklin’s 4-21 record against top ten teams now looks worse after a close 42–37 loss to a UCLA team he was expected to handle. Naturally, “Fire Franklin” chants are echoing across Happy Valley. Now, if Penn State does decide to part ways, Franklin would join the ranks of the most expensive coaching buyouts, alongside Jimbo Fisher.

That’s when national analyst Josh Pate devises an effective technique that doesn’t significantly reduce James Franklin’s stock. Dan Mullen, the UNLV Rebels HC, clearly inspired this idea, with a $17.5M price tag. “You could step away, if you were James Franklin right now, for a couple of years. You could go do TV if you wanted to,” Pate said on the 8th October episode of his show. “Look at what Dan Mullen did. Dan Mullen put the blueprint out there. Now, he got fired, but Mullen put the blueprint out there,” Pate added.

“He went and sat in a studio in Bristol, Connecticut, on ESPN, and he sounded like a genius because everyone who knows the game sounds like a genius.” Pate wants Franklin to follow the same path as Mullen. Dan Mullen’s Florida journey began in 2005 as the offensive mastermind behind the Gators, helping secure national titles in 2006 and 2008. By 2021, however, his tenure as head coach faltered, and after being given one last chance by AD Scott Stricklin, he chose to step away before the season ended.

Instead of immediately pursuing another coaching job, Mullen pivoted to the studio, sharing his insights as an analyst for ESPN and ABC. And then in December 2024, UNLV appointed him as their new head coach, with a $17.5 million contract, after Barry Odom went to Purdue.

So this is the entire game plan that Josh Pate laid out for James Franklin if his firing buzz becomes louder than ever. “You’ve sort of rewritten the history of how the time at Penn State came to an end,” Pate added. “And you’ve also socialized behind the scenes what the James Franklin 2.0 plan would be. And your stock just continues to go up.” It really doesn’t harm your reputation if you are taking a step back from all the head coaching chaos when things aren’t really working your way.

Take, for instance, Urban Meyer, after retiring from Ohio State in 2018, Meyer didn’t fade into the background. He brought his sharp football mind to Fox Sports, teaming up with Big Noon Kickoff as an analyst. And then in 2021, Meyer shook up the football world again, jumping to the NFL as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ head coach.

That’s the magic of media that Josh Pate wants James Franklin to explore.

Who is going to be at the Penn State helm? 

As the “Fire Franklin” chants grow louder, the list of replacements in Happy Valley gets ready, but there’s a catch. Penn State faces a staggering $56 million buyout to end James Franklin’s contract early. That’s cash that could tie the hands of the program for years to come. Still, the talk about who could step into the spotlight if Franklin does get the boot is heating up. The top name flying around is Curt Cignetti.

The Pennsylvania native has quietly been crushing it at Indiana, leading them to a top-10 Big Ten road win. It’s really rare in Franklin’s reign. Plus, look at the Hoosiers’ 5-0 clean slate. Matt Rhule is in the mix, too. He is a Penn State alum with deep blue blood running through his veins. Plus, Rhule’s reputation as a program builder back at Temple and Baylor makes him a good fit.

Then there’s Dabo Swinney, who might seem like a long shot given his stunning legacy at Clemson. That even includes two national titles. However, his current run this season makes him somewhat questionable at this point. Next up, Ed Oregeron. A national champ at LSU who’s spoken openly about itching to coach again. Lastly, Jon Gruden’s name chimed in. He’s got a Super Bowl ring and an undeniable football IQ, but also baggage that might not sit well with Penn State’s institutional expectations.

Even with all these potential replacements, Franklin’s buyout question still hangs over Penn State.