Just as quickly as the James Franklin to Virginia Tech rumors picked up, it has cooled off. Whatever ends up being the outcome, it's going to be a while before a final decision is made. There are hints from some big-name insiders who have hinted at the move happening, but until it does, it's just rumors.
Paul Myerberg of USA Today predicted who was going to fill some of the current college football openings, and he predicted that Franklin will still be hired in Blacksburg, despite everything cooling off over the last couple of days.
"The athletics budget at Virginia Tech is set to increase by about $229 million over the next four years, the school announced in late September. That leap in spending will attract a deeper pool of candidates than the Hokies evaluated when hiring Brent Pry, who was then the defensive coordinator under Franklin at Penn State,'' Myerberg wrote.
In 2021, it was another huge hiring cycle for college football coaches, but Virginia Tech swung with a coach with no head-coaching experience and paid for it. Pry went 16-24 in Blacksburg in his first swing as a head coach before being fired in September. Now, with another crazy cycle here, this is a hire that the Virginia Tech committee needs to get right.
"Four seasons later, Franklin is by leaps and bounds the most impressive candidate in Virginia Tech’s orbit; if the two sides can come to an agreement, he’s the type of coach who can reverse the program’s decade-plus malaise and quickly bring the Hokies into ACC contention,'' Myerberg continued.
Quick turnaround in Blacksburg is possible under Franklin
Quickly turning around Virginia Tech would be something that Franklin could do with his track record and money. If Tony Elliott can do it at Virginia, so can Franklin at Virginia Tech.
"That he might come at a relative discount after receiving a mammoth buyout from the Nittany Lions would be a bonus. From Franklin’s perspective, the Hokies’ appeal stems from the easier path to the playoff compared to the Big Ten and — even if he would never say this publicly — the chance to do damage to Penn State’s chances by tapping into the same recruiting backdrop that helped feed the Nittany Lions’ roster during his tenure,'' added Myerberg.
Yes, Virginia Tech's path to the College Football Playoff with Franklin is one that is easier than at an SEC school, but one wrench that could get thrown in is Mike Norvell at Florida State. Franklin could sit out until the end of the season on Thanksgiving Weekend and see if that job opens up, which would be more appealing than Virginia Tech.