The college football coaching carousel has a funny way of turning yesterday’s rejects into today’s hottest commodities. Just weeks after Penn State unceremoniously fired James Franklin, the former Nittany Lions coach finds himself at the center of what might be the most intriguing hire of this cycle. Virginia Tech has emerged as the frontrunner to land Franklin, and now Nick Saban has weighed in with a ringing endorsement that could push this deal across the finish line.​

Nick Saban showed full support when asked about the possibility of Franklin landing at Virginia Tech. “This would be a great hire for Virginia Tech,” Saban said. “They would get a class guy and a class coach who’d be very successful, I’m sure.” It’s not the first time Nick Saban has gone to bat for Franklin. Back in October, the legendary Alabama coach called Franklin’s firing “unfair as hell” during a College GameDay appearance, pointing to Penn State’s recent College Football Playoff appearance and consistent success. 

This comes at a crucial moment as Virginia Tech’s search committee weighs its options.​ But Virginia Tech isn’t the only program circling Franklin like sharks around chum. 

Auburn, Florida, Arkansas, and potentially LSU have all expressed varying degrees of interest in him. Franklin’s agent, the notorious Jimmy Sexton, has built an empire on leveraging multiple openings against each other. And this cycle presents a master class in the art of the deal.

According to sources, Franklin has been actively engaging with players and coaches at potential landing spots. He is trying to gauge fit while Sexton works the phones to extract maximum value from whichever program ultimately lands his client. The Arkansas buzz has been particularly persistent, with some speculating the Razorbacks view themselves as the next Texas Tech, a program willing to pay top dollar for a proven commodity.​​

The wildcard in all of this? Florida State. Mike Norvell’s seat is molten. The Seminoles are evaluating his future after a disastrous follow-up to their undefeated 2023 season, which is continuing in 2025. And while his $58 million buyout is the second-largest in college football history, money talks and desperation screams. 

Multiple insiders have connected Franklin to FSU if the Seminoles pull the trigger, and the timing couldn’t be more strategic for Franklin and Sexton. By not committing to Virginia Tech and other offers now, Franklin could be doing two things. He is waiting for FSU’s job to be open, so that he can get a market price that forces Virginia Tech to ante up if they want him. And secondly, securing a lucrative Plan B if the Seminoles decide to swallow the buyout poison pill and move on from Norvell after the season. 

A month ago, Franklin was unemployed and shell-shocked, processing a dismissal. Now he’s arguably the most sought-after coach on the market not named Lane Kiffin, with Saban publicly vouching for his abilities and multiple Power Four programs willing to back up the Brink’s truck. Whether Franklin ends up in Blacksburg, Tallahassee, or somewhere else entirely, one thing is certain: Jimmy Sexton is going to make sure his client gets paid, and paid handsomely, for his next act.​​

Penn State’s Financial Silver Lining

There’s a financial silver lining for Penn State in all this. Every dollar Virginia Tech pays James Franklin is a dollar the Nittany Lions don’t have to. According to Franklin’s contract, Penn State’s buyout payments get offset by whatever salary he earns at his next football job. 

That means if Virginia Tech matches or comes close to the $8 million annually that Franklin was guaranteed at Penn State, the $48 million buyout essentially evaporates. Penn State would only pay the difference between Franklin’s old salary and his new one, which could mean paying little to nothing if the Hokies pony up. Given that Brent Pry was making around $4.8 million per year, Virginia Tech would need to significantly bump up its coaching budget to land Franklin. But that’s exactly what they’re positioning themselves to do with the $229 million investment in athletics they approved back in September.

Franklin’s contract included language requiring him to “diligently search” for another job. And frankly (pun intended), he doesn’t need much motivation. It’s a rare scenario where everyone kind of wins. Franklin gets back on the sideline fast, and Virginia Tech gets an experienced program builder. And as for Penn State, they get to redirect millions toward their next hire instead of paying Franklin to coach somewhere else.