Penn State wants to win now. Being good just isn’t good enough. James Franklin’s termination shows the urgency for success. After losing three straight games, especially to teams like UCLA and Northwestern, the Nittany Lions decided to cut their losses and start afresh. This opens up a world of speculation for who will take over this coveted position. And just in time, a Penn State private jet just landed near The Shoe carrying rumors of a name. Brian Hartline.

On October 13th, Penn State beat reporter Collin Ward took to X and spilled the tea on this rendezvous. He also attached receipts and questioned whether it was for Hartline: “Don’t look now, but the Penn State private jet just landed at Ohio State’s airport. Brian Hartline? Would they land there for Al Golden? I feel like no.” Not going to lie, Al Golden seems like a stretch, anyway. The coach recently landed a defensive coordinator gig with the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Hartline theory makes the most sense. Ever since Franklin’s exit, he’s emerged as the most intriguing non-HC candidate for Penn State. Joel Klatt even called him an “under the radar” option on his podcast, saying: “The guy that’s maybe under the radar, that’s not a head coach right now, that has seen it like a Dan Lanning or a Kirby Smart, he’s been around it. He knows what it takes. He just hasn’t been a head coach yet, is Brian Hartline at Ohio State. And I know Buckeye fans are screaming right now for me bringing up that name.”

After being promoted to OC this season, Hartline taken 100% of the play-calls. So far, the Buckeyes’ offense is ranked 23rd nationally in points per game, averaging 36.8 points. They average 421.5 total yards per game, placing them 46th nationally. They are converting 77.9% of their third downs and allowing only 0.5 sacks per game. But don’t let these rankings fool you. The numbers are by design as Ryan Day ensures the right balance between his offense and defense.

Klatt made it clear this is just his personal take, not insider intel. He believes Hartline could achieve the same level of success as Dan Lanning, Kirby Smart, or Steve Sarkisian. Also, he’s an elite-level play-caller who has recruited and developed multiple first-round picks at wideout. Hartline could be the perfect fit if Penn State is aiming for a non-HC candidate instead of chasing a big-name hire.

Exploring Penn State’s next head coach: Klatt’s Take

Joel Klatt laid out three main categories for Penn State’s next head coach. The first is the “certified big-timer” coaches. As the name suggests, a coach who comes in to carry the team with his personality or reputation. In this parameter, the hottest name is Curt Cignetti. He led Indiana to a 30-20 victory over the No. 3-ranked Oregon Ducks and has a Midas touch when it comes to coaching. So far, he’s 17-2 in Indiana, proving he knows how to get results and handle pressure at a high level.

The second category is the “bring-him-home” coach, someone with ties to Penn State who already knows the program and the culture. Popular choices here include Duke Football’s head coach Manny Diaz and Nebraska’s Matt Rhule. Manny Diaz already spent time at Penn State as the defensive coordinator from 2022 to 2023, so he’s familiar with the program, the staff, and the recruiting landscape. But he lacks the success required to be considered a real contender.

Matt Rhule is another obvious “bring-him-home” option. He was born and raised a Penn State fan, grew up in State College, and even played linebacker for the Nittany Lions from 1994 to 1997. But Rhule is currently thriving at Nebraska. The Cornhuskers are 5-1, and luring him out of Lincoln feels like an impossible task.

Then come the last category, the Brian Hartline kind. A powerful coordinator hungry for the big stage. Whoever gets this position will have the expectations of immediate success thrust upon them. A conference championship is only the bare minimum as Happy Valley’s trophy drought has dragged on long enough.