The James Franklin era in Happy Valley has officially come to an end. After a mid-season collapse and growing frustration over Penn State’s inability to win big games, the program parted ways with Franklin on October 12.
Now, attention has turned to the Penn State next head coach odds, where a new frontrunner has emerged in the form of Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline.
With Hartline, among others, leading the pack, Penn State’s coaching search is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing storylines of the college football offseason.
Penn State next head coach odds
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Why did Penn State fire James Franklin
- September 27: Everything was going according to plan for Penn State. The Nittany Lions were 3-0 and ranked No. 3 in the country ahead of their primetime “White Out” game vs. No. 6 Oregon. They erased a 17-3 fourth-quarter deficit and even led by seven after the first overtime, but an Oregon touchdown, followed by a Drew Allar interception, handed Penn State its first loss and once again spotlighted Franklin’s inability to win the big one.
- October 4: Coming off that emotional gut punch, Penn State traveled across the country to face 0-4 UCLA, a team that hadn’t scored more than 23 points all season. What followed was a complete collapse. The Nittany Lions gave up 42 and lost outright as 24.5-point favorites.
- October 11: The final nail in the coffin came with a home loss to Northwestern. Penn State was outgained, outplayed, and embarrassed from start to finish — another defeat as 20.5-point favorites. The move to fire Franklin came soon after.
James Franklin buyout information
Franklin was under contract through 2031, earning about $8 million per year. However, a clause in his deal states he’s owed the full $50 million buyout, minus a $500,000 retention bonus — the second-largest in college football history, behind only Jimbo Fisher’s at Texas A&M.
Penn State next head coach favorites
Eli Drinkwitz
There is a lot to love about Eli Drinkwitz, including his ability to design creative offensive schemes that go hand in hand with his fiery sideline presence that players love to rally around.
Drinkwitz’s success against powerhouse programs and his reputation for maximizing talent have caught the eye of several major schools, and Penn State is no exception.
If the Nittany Lions want a proven Power Five winner who brings energy and innovation, Drinkwitz could be a name to watch as the Penn State next head coach odds continue to evolve.
Brian Hartline
Brian Hartline has built one of the most explosive units in college football, developing a conveyor belt of NFL-ready receivers and earning a reputation as one of the brightest young minds in the game.
Hartline’s youth, recruiting power, and Big Ten familiarity make him an ideal fit for Penn State, which has long searched for a modern offensive identity.
The only question is whether he’d be willing to leave the Ohio State Buckeyes for their bitter rival in Happy Valley — a move that would instantly tilt the balance of power in the conference.
Joe Brady
Joe Brady has quietly made a name for himself over the last handful of years as a great offensive mind. He's had the Buffalo Bills' offense humming (last two games notwithstanding), and he could be the right kind of offensive mind needed at Penn State. After all, he did have his hand in LSU's high-octane offense in 2019, led by Joe Burrow.
Whether or not Brady has the urge to ditch the pro ranks for his shot at running the show in college remains to be seen.
For now, these are just rumours and speculation, but if the Nittany Lions want to make a splash, this would certainly be a play.
Jeff Brohm
If James Franklin struggled to deliver signature wins, Jeff Brohm is the complete opposite.
He is 4-4 against AP Top-5 opponents in his career with Purdue and now Louisville, and his creative genius will give the Nittany Lions the added boost they need to compete.
Throw in the fact that Brohm has ties to the Big Ten, leading Purdue to the Conference Title game in 2022, and you can understand why he's a major player for the role.
Matt Campbell
And finally, we round out this list with Iowa State's Matt Campbell.
He's been a household name in the rumor mill for some time now, but has yet to budge from his perch at Iowa State. He's a coach capable of getting the most out of his roster and churning out NFL-caliber players along the way.
He's someone to watch, and quite frankly, may be the best fit.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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