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James “not elite, not employed” Franklin

Google AI: As of October 2025, public reports indicate that James Franklin;s contract with Penn State does not include a standard offset clause. An offset clause would typically reduce the buyout amount a university must pay if a fired coach is hired elsewhere. Because there is no publicly confirmed offset language, it's possible that Franklin could collect his full buyout from Penn State while also earning a new salary from another school.

Excited Yes GIFs | Tenor
So Much Yes GIFs | Tenor
Jack Nicholson Yes GIFs | Tenor
 
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I could see him going somewhere like Arky or Baylor or Oklahoma State. I don't think he'll go out to the west coast, he's an east coast guy.

I think Florida could be in play as well when they can Napier.

I don't think he's getting another top end P5 gig after this debacle (Florida).

If Saban was still coaching he could do a year in his boot camp for failed HC's and then look. As it is, I think he's on track for a lower tier P5 like the others you listed.

Oregon State just fired their guy but I don't know who in their right mind would want that job.
 
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I don't think he's getting another top end P5 gig after this debacle (Florida).

If Saban was still coaching he could do a year in his boot camp for failed HC's and then look. As it is, I think he's on track for a lower tier P5 like the others you listed.

Oregon State just fired their guy but I don't know who in their right mind would want that job.
I don't consider Florida a top end P5 gig though, despite what they may think of themselves. :lol:
 
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I don't consider Florida a top end P5 gig though, despite what they may think of themselves. :lol:

Yeah it's subjective. I was just thinking you know take the SEC/Big and 3-4 others and is Florida a top half of that pile gig?

By that criteria, I'd say "yes" but I get their light heavyweight classification. A lot like Penn State really.
 
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To be fair to him, they weren't only losing 1-2 games a year when he got there.

Put him someplace with a different level of program self awareness/expectations and he's a solid coach I'm sure.

He is still an asshat and big game choke job artist but he could absolutely have a good run at a Baylor or whatnot.

Just sayin': Yeah, he was a (fairly) "solid coach" at Vandy (for 3 years*); which is undoubtedly why Ped State hired him. However, if you look at his record at Ped State he never did achieve the "eliteness" Ped State wanted. The only year he won the B1G Championship, he still was 11-3 (8-1), lost the Rose Bowl, and finished #7 in the polls.

* at least he had a higher overall winning percentage (i.e .615) than most of Vandy's previous coaches over the last century (but the bar really wasn't all that high) ..... :lol:
 
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