Shortly after Virginia Tech fired Brent Pry, the school put together a search committee to find the school's next coach. Since Pry was fired, several other jobs have opened up, and some of them are big jobs.
One of those jobs, shortly after Pry was fired, that opened up was at Penn State, which fired James Franklin. Pry came from Penn State to replace Justin Fuente four years ago. Now, just four years later, could Franklin, the biggest free agent name in the coaching carousel, be replacing his former defensive coordinator at Virginia Tech?
There is still smoke around James Franklin to Virginia Tech
Generally, where there is smoke, there is fire, and Virginia Tech fans hope that is the case with James Franklin and the open position. As the coaching search was beginning, Andy Bitter of Tech Sideline reported that the committee signed NDA's, which keeps the rumors very small. However, in this day and age, information can still get out, and it appears that might be the case.
On the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, Bruce Arians made an appearance and McAfee made reference that "Virginia Tech is cooking right now from what I've been told.'' Read into that as you will.
There have been other hints about smoke and James Franklin to Virginia Tech, but everything is being kept on the down low. After he was fired, Franklin went on College GameDay and didn't sound like someone ready to kick back with his buyout and not coach in 2026. He will be on the sideline, it's just a matter of where.
Franklin's agent Jimmy Sexton is someone who doesn't close deals quickly or easily. If there is something behind the scenes with his client and Virginia Tech, he'll likely hold out and try and raise the money stakes. There are four SEC jobs open right now: Auburn, Arkansas, LSU, and Florida, but truth be told, if Franklin wants to win, he could come into the ACC and win right away, compared to the SEC.
Hopefully, there is some closure sooner rather than later, but the smoke brewing and hovering can't be ignored.