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2025-26 Coaching Carousel
- Thread starter Seaofred92
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2025-26 Coaching Carousel
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The story hints there may be a negotiated departure. His buyout if he is fired after 12/1 is $48M, story says he could leave to find a new job.
I would guess this would mean he'd leave for a payment that was a significant piece of the 48M
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He probably takes whatever haircut he could easily make up at his next gig if this comes to fruition.
But for Penn State though you got a be holding aces to make this move
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this is the driver for negotiations
James Franklin’s buyout includes a clause where he is required to seek employment, required to accept any bonafide offer of employment, and his pay at said employment is counted back against the buyout.
I.e., if he settles the entire contract for less than 48M he will be free/clear to do whatever he wants going forward on his own timing
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He'd be a good studio guy
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Aka “Throw the Brinks Truck at Cignetti”
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this is from a PA news outlet, Pennlive
The Franklin situation has reached a new level of toxicity. On Saturday, Franklin was booed during pregame introductions, and that was just the start of it. Beaver Stadium fans let him hear it after the Nittany Lions fell to 3-3 on the season — a season that started with so much hope.
Now, it feels as though it’s just a matter of how and when Franklin and Penn State move on. The enormous buyout might be prohibitive. But Franklin, for all the good that he did in a decade-plus in Happy Valley, cannot continue as Penn State’s coach beyond this season. A mutual parting of ways and a fresh start would be best for all parties involved.
So, who might be in line to succeed Franklin? Let’s look at some of the best candidates to take Penn State forward.
Indiana HC Curt Cignetti: This will be the top option for a lot of people, and it should. Cignetti has proven at every stop that he’s one of the best coaches in college football. But what he’s done with Indiana is particularly impressive. In 2024, he took them to the CFP in his inaugural season. This year, he has the Hoosiers undefeated after a massive win at Oregon. Cignetti has no reason to leave Indiana. He’ll be treated like a king there for as long as he wants, and he has serious NIL backing that’s paid off the last two offseasons. But the 64-year-old is also a cocky, serial winner — and he might want a crack at a traditional, blueblood program.
Oregon OC Will Stein: Georgia hit a home run when it hired Kirby Smart away from Alabama. Oregon hit a home run when it hired Dan Lanning away from Georgia. Could Penn State take a big swing on Lanning’s offensive coordinator? It’s been a rapid rise for Stein. The 36-year-old went from coaching at Lake Travis High School in 2017 to UTSA to being hired by Oregon in 2023. The Ducks have rolled ever since, and Stein’s profile has grown. It would be a risk to hire a first-time head coach. But any hire is a risk. There’s no guarantee any of these guys would work out. Personally, I’m in favor of taking a swing like Oregon and Georgia did.
Arizona State HC Kenny Dillingham: How about the guy Stein took over for? Dillingham, like Stein, is one of the brightest offensive minds in college football. The 35-year-old has also had success as a head coach. In 2024, Dillingham’s second season with the Sun Devils, he led Arizona State to a Big 12 title, a CFP appearance and a near quarterfinal win over Texas.
Cockeye State HC Matt Campbell: Campbell, 45, has been courted in the past by major programs and even NFL teams but has stayed put at Cockeye State for 10 seasons. The three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year won 11 games last year and has consistently produced solid seasons for the Cyclones. But is “solid” what Penn State fans are looking for at this point?
Duke HC Manny Diaz: Diaz was the best defensive coordinator — maybe the best play-caller, period — of the Franklin era. Diaz, after running Penn State’s defense in 2022 and 2023, became the head coach at Duke, where he has a 13-6 record. But Diaz’s 21-15 mark at Miami might be more indicative of how he’d do at a program of Penn State’s stature.
South Florida HC Alex Golesh: Golesh is one of the top up-and-coming, non-power conference coaches out there. The 41-year-old was a grad assistant at Ohio State (2004-05) and spent four years at Illinois (2012-15), so he knows the Big Ten. He had successful OC stints at UCF and Tennessee before taking over at South Florida in 2023. Golesh’s record with the Bulls is 19-13, including a 5-1 start this season with wins over Florida and Boise State.
Tulane HC Jon Sumrall: It’s safe to assume Sumrall will get an SEC job this offseason. Arkansas has an opening. Florida, Kentucky and Auburn could be open. The Texas native, who has spent time at Kentucky and Ole Miss, feels like a good fit down there. But Sumrall, who has a 37-10 record in three-and-a-half seasons at Troy and Tulane, would be worth a call.
Nebraska HC Matt Rhule: Is Rhule the best option? I don’t think so. But it would be a popular hire in certain circles. The 50-year-old is a native son of State College and played at Penn State under Joe Paterno. He had success at Temple and Baylor before a failed NFL stint. Now, he’s in the third year of a rebuild at Nebraska. What helps Rhule’s candidacy is his connection with athletic director Pat Kraft. Kraft hired Rhule at Temple, and the two are friends. What hurts is Rhule is known as a program saver. Penn State doesn’t need saving. It needs elevating.
The James Franklin era at Penn State is collapsing. Who could replace him?
- Updated: Oct. 12, 2025, 10:14 a.m.
The Franklin situation has reached a new level of toxicity. On Saturday, Franklin was booed during pregame introductions, and that was just the start of it. Beaver Stadium fans let him hear it after the Nittany Lions fell to 3-3 on the season — a season that started with so much hope.
Now, it feels as though it’s just a matter of how and when Franklin and Penn State move on. The enormous buyout might be prohibitive. But Franklin, for all the good that he did in a decade-plus in Happy Valley, cannot continue as Penn State’s coach beyond this season. A mutual parting of ways and a fresh start would be best for all parties involved.
So, who might be in line to succeed Franklin? Let’s look at some of the best candidates to take Penn State forward.
Indiana HC Curt Cignetti: This will be the top option for a lot of people, and it should. Cignetti has proven at every stop that he’s one of the best coaches in college football. But what he’s done with Indiana is particularly impressive. In 2024, he took them to the CFP in his inaugural season. This year, he has the Hoosiers undefeated after a massive win at Oregon. Cignetti has no reason to leave Indiana. He’ll be treated like a king there for as long as he wants, and he has serious NIL backing that’s paid off the last two offseasons. But the 64-year-old is also a cocky, serial winner — and he might want a crack at a traditional, blueblood program.
Oregon OC Will Stein: Georgia hit a home run when it hired Kirby Smart away from Alabama. Oregon hit a home run when it hired Dan Lanning away from Georgia. Could Penn State take a big swing on Lanning’s offensive coordinator? It’s been a rapid rise for Stein. The 36-year-old went from coaching at Lake Travis High School in 2017 to UTSA to being hired by Oregon in 2023. The Ducks have rolled ever since, and Stein’s profile has grown. It would be a risk to hire a first-time head coach. But any hire is a risk. There’s no guarantee any of these guys would work out. Personally, I’m in favor of taking a swing like Oregon and Georgia did.
Arizona State HC Kenny Dillingham: How about the guy Stein took over for? Dillingham, like Stein, is one of the brightest offensive minds in college football. The 35-year-old has also had success as a head coach. In 2024, Dillingham’s second season with the Sun Devils, he led Arizona State to a Big 12 title, a CFP appearance and a near quarterfinal win over Texas.
Cockeye State HC Matt Campbell: Campbell, 45, has been courted in the past by major programs and even NFL teams but has stayed put at Cockeye State for 10 seasons. The three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year won 11 games last year and has consistently produced solid seasons for the Cyclones. But is “solid” what Penn State fans are looking for at this point?
Duke HC Manny Diaz: Diaz was the best defensive coordinator — maybe the best play-caller, period — of the Franklin era. Diaz, after running Penn State’s defense in 2022 and 2023, became the head coach at Duke, where he has a 13-6 record. But Diaz’s 21-15 mark at Miami might be more indicative of how he’d do at a program of Penn State’s stature.
South Florida HC Alex Golesh: Golesh is one of the top up-and-coming, non-power conference coaches out there. The 41-year-old was a grad assistant at Ohio State (2004-05) and spent four years at Illinois (2012-15), so he knows the Big Ten. He had successful OC stints at UCF and Tennessee before taking over at South Florida in 2023. Golesh’s record with the Bulls is 19-13, including a 5-1 start this season with wins over Florida and Boise State.
Tulane HC Jon Sumrall: It’s safe to assume Sumrall will get an SEC job this offseason. Arkansas has an opening. Florida, Kentucky and Auburn could be open. The Texas native, who has spent time at Kentucky and Ole Miss, feels like a good fit down there. But Sumrall, who has a 37-10 record in three-and-a-half seasons at Troy and Tulane, would be worth a call.
Nebraska HC Matt Rhule: Is Rhule the best option? I don’t think so. But it would be a popular hire in certain circles. The 50-year-old is a native son of State College and played at Penn State under Joe Paterno. He had success at Temple and Baylor before a failed NFL stint. Now, he’s in the third year of a rebuild at Nebraska. What helps Rhule’s candidacy is his connection with athletic director Pat Kraft. Kraft hired Rhule at Temple, and the two are friends. What hurts is Rhule is known as a program saver. Penn State doesn’t need saving. It needs elevating.
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If I’m PSU I offer Cignetti every last dollar I have.
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Always a risk to say "this guy can't take us to the next level. Let's go get someone who can" when the next level is very rarified air
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The publicity around a Cignetti hire would be a huge boost for fundraising and especially in recruiting
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Incredible
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Per Thamel
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He gone
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Rhule? No not IMO, as we’ll match any offer so let’s see what happens.
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Do we think they got a verbal from somebody like Cigs to motivate them to pull the trigger right now? Or this merely to save face with fanbase and boosters?
