James Franklin had not returned to begin to clean out his office on Sunday after he was fired, before names were being linked to the opening at Penn State. There have been a ton of names thrown out, and some make sense, and some don't.
Whatever ends up happening, it is sure to have a ripple effect across college football, as replacing him will likely be a coach from another top program in the country, who will then have to be replaced at their current job. Pete Nakos of On3 listed six coaches who are on his Penn State Hot Board.
One ACC coach linked to Penn State opening
Even before Franklin was fired on Sunday and even before Penn State was stunned at home by Northwestern, Georgia Tech coach Brent Key was mentioned in the same breath as the Penn State job. That was even before the Yellow Jackets went out and beat Virginia Tech, 35-20, on Saturday.
On Monday, Nakos linked six coaches to the opening, including Manny Diaz at Duke. Diaz was the defensive coordinator at Penn State for two years under Franklin in 2022 and 2023 when Brent Pry left for Virginia Tech.
NEW: Penn State Head Coach Hot Board via @PeteNakos_🔥https://t.co/9GzbRCVTJh pic.twitter.com/l5xP9giwX8
— On3 (@On3sports) October 13, 2025
Diaz has been good at Duke, and he has the Blue Devils hosting Key and the Yellow Jackets this Saturday in a game that will go a long way toward one team taking another step closer to the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte in December. Cue the distraction this week for Duke and Diaz, who will, without a doubt, be asked about it.
The other names Nakos listed are surprising, and some are not so surprising. Clark Lea at Vanderbilt would be an interesting hire, as would Eli Drinkwitz leaving Missouri for Penn State. A name that continues to be linked to the opening is Nebraska's Matt Rhule. That makes sense given his ties to the school, but Diaz being linked is certainly surprising.