By : Ethan Horner
(Photo/Mouaz Pircha-The Mojo Network)
When the news broke that Penn State had parted ways with longtime head coach James Franklin, even Franklin himself was stunned. After three straight losses — including back-to-back defeats to Northwestern and UCLA — the university made a move few thought was possible.
“I was in shock,” Franklin said during ESPN’s College GameDay on Saturday. “I’m still working through it myself. It feels surreal.”
Now, as Franklin looks toward his next chapter, one destination is drawing early buzz: Virginia Tech. With Brent Pry’s tenure in Blacksburg coming to an end, several college football analysts believe the Hokies should go all-in on the veteran coach.
According to The Athletic’s Grace Raynor, the Hokies’ decision should be “as clear as it gets” — do whatever it takes to bring Franklin to Blacksburg.
And while the logic is there, the competition will be fierce. Florida’s firing of Billy Napier opens a blue-blood opportunity that many consider more attractive than Virginia Tech. Other potential openings — Florida State, Auburn, or even Penn State’s new search if they pivot again — will only make the chase tougher.
Still, Franklin has made it clear: coaching is in his blood, and he’s not done yet.
“I don’t know anything else,” Franklin said. “I’ve been doing this for 30 years. I don’t have hobbies — I don’t golf, I don’t fish. This has been such a big part of who I am and who my family is. We thought we’d win a national championship at Penn State. That goal hasn’t changed. We’re just going to win one somewhere else.”
Could that “somewhere else” be Virginia Tech? The fit makes sense. Franklin’s recruiting roots in the DMV area, his reputation for player development, and his ability to elevate programs align perfectly with what the Hokies need.
For Virginia Tech, this might be the moment to swing big — to make the aggressive move that redefines the program’s future. The opportunity is there. The question is whether the Hokies are willing to go all in.