By : Colton Towns
(Photo/TechSideline)
James Franklin is on the verge of taking over in Blacksburg, with Virginia Tech moving quickly to secure the former Penn State coach as its next leader. According to reporting from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the Hokies and Franklin have finalized an agreement that will bring him to the ACC after his dismissal in Happy Valley.
The move develops only days after early reports indicated both sides were exploring the possibility of a partnership. Franklin was removed from his role at Penn State following a stunning loss to Northwestern, the third straight defeat in a season that spiraled after a setback against UCLA. The Nittany Lions sit at 4-6 overall and 1-6 in conference play.
Franklin steps in for Brent Pry, his longtime defensive coordinator, who was fired in September after an 0-3 start. Pry’s four-year tenure ended at 16-24, continuing a stretch of mediocrity that began under former head coach Justin Fuente. Virginia Tech has been searching for stability and a spark, and Franklin’s track record makes him one of the most accomplished hires the program has made since Frank Beamer retired in 2015.
Before arriving at Penn State, Franklin engineered an impressive turnaround at Vanderbilt and has accumulated a career record of 128-60 across 15 seasons as a head coach. His time in State College included a Big Ten Championship in 2016 and a College Football Playoff semifinal run in 2024, even though this year’s collapse overshadowed the program’s recent success.
Virginia Tech’s administration has already laid the groundwork for an aggressive rebuild, approving a plan to invest more than two hundred million dollars into athletics over the next four years. Pairing that commitment with Franklin’s strong recruiting profile could make the Hokies a major player on the national stage again.
Penn State opened the season ranked third in the country and looked the part through three dominant wins. The momentum evaporated after a double-overtime loss to Oregon, and the Nittany Lions never recovered. That downturn unexpectedly placed a proven coach on the market, and Virginia Tech moved quickly to capitalize.
Despite never breaking through for a national title and struggling against top ten opponents with a 4-21 mark in those games, Franklin consistently delivered double-digit win seasons. The Hokies have not reached that benchmark since 2016, while Franklin produced six such campaigns, including a streak of three straight from 2022 through 2024.
Virginia Tech hopes that trend follows him to Blacksburg as the program looks to reestablish itself in an ACC without a dominant force. Franklin’s arrival signals a fresh start and the possibility of the Hokies returning to national relevance as soon as next season.