Head coach James Franklin is entering his eighth season leading the Penn State Nittany Lions football program after he joined the program in 2014. But some recent NFL news has one college football insider speculating that his days in Happy Valley could be numbered.
With the Carolina Panthers firing head coach Matt Rhule on Monday afternoon, Michigan Wolverines insider and prominent author John U. Bacon suggested that Rhule could replace Franklin if the Penn State head coach struggles during the second half of the college football season.
With Matt Rhule out as Carolina Panthers' HC, keep an eye on Penn State. Rhule is from State College.
PSU HC Franklin's status has been in limbo on and off, and they have UM-MN-OSU coming up.
PSU's new AD, Patrick Kraft, is a buddy of Rhule's.
Franklin might feel some heat.— John U. Bacon (@Johnubacon) October 10, 2022
“With Matt Rhule out as Carolina Panthers’ HC, keep an eye on Penn State. Rhule is from State College.
PSU HC Franklin’s status has been in limbo on and off, and they have UM-MN-OSU coming up. PSU’s new AD, Patrick Kraft, is a buddy of Rhule’s. Franklin might feel some heat,” John U. Bacon said in a Tweet.
It’s certainly some wild speculation, especially with Penn State currently undefeated and ranked among the top-10 teams in the country. It’s especially unlikely after Franklin just signed a contract extension with the school.
As a result, the college football world still had plenty to say about the speculation on Twitter on Monday afternoon.
That new contract makes it pretty much impossible
— Austin Ward (@AWardSports) October 10, 2022
Franklin might NOT feel some heat… https://t.co/n43wAHK9sV
— Logan Carney (@Media_Carnival) October 10, 2022
Franklin just signed a massive extension, has been recruiting a crazy good level and is 5-0 right now. @Johnubacon do better….SMH https://t.co/jTybEIKv4j
— Richie O’Leary (@RivalsRichie) October 10, 2022
Matt Rhule's ties to Penn State and State College is interesting, however James Franklin just signed a 10 year extension. He's not going anywhere https://t.co/WiICVopReB
— Ryan Risky (@rriskyyy) October 10, 2022
Oh god not again https://t.co/ClFeJD5oE5
— Basic Blues Nation (@BasicBlues) October 10, 2022
Says the Michigan fan/writer the week of the PSU/Michigan game. JFC…🙄🤣
Btw, you should probably be more concerned for your own coach and his flirtations with the NFL year after year, even AFTER y’all finally beat OSU, won B1G and made the CFP. https://t.co/ivqE4WWjSI
— Joshua Hoch (@PSULions09) October 10, 2022
Regardless, we’ll likely have to wait until the end of the college football season to see how this all shakes out.
