Virginia Tech is trying to hire head coach James Franklin before two other college football jobs likely open before 2026.
Virginia Tech fired Brent Pry on Sept. 14 after an embarrassing 45-26 loss to Old Dominion the day before, dropping the program to 0-3. More News: College Football Coach Linked to LSU Suffers Major Upset on Thursday Night The Hokies are 3-5 before getting set to host No.
16 Louisville on Saturday. In recent days, rumors of interest between former Penn State head coach James Franklin and VT have surfaced. The Hokies want to land a big-name brand for 2026, and Franklin’s resume of leading PSU to a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance is appealing. PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 04: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts against the UCLA Bruins during the third quarter at Rose Bowl Stadium on October 04, 2025 in Pasadena, California. More News: Colorado’s Deion Sanders Accuses Big 12 Teams of ‘Lying’ on Injury Report During an appearance on ESPN’s “College GameDay” on Saturday morning, Pete Thamel reported that Virginia Tech is feeling “urgency” to finalize a deal with Franklin before more Power 4 jobs open up in November. “Everything’s always fluid when it comes to the carousel, but one thing to watch in upcoming days is that sources tell me there’s been early signs of interest between James Franklin and Virginia Tech,” Thamel said, via a transcription by On3. “There’s been some urgency from Virginia Tech specifically to get something done early.” The Athletic suggested earlier this week that Franklin isn’t in a rush to sign with VT, hoping that Florida State University and Auburn will soon have vacancies. Thamel suggested the Hokies are ready to make an aggressive push to land Franklin before those jobs open. “Look, this is a big game of musical chairs right now, and there’s a lot of aggression from these schools to try to get someone in the house, as opposed to waiting as you go down the line,” Thamel said. “With the specter of both Florida State and Auburn potentially opening, there’s really going to be just a fascinating crush to try to get this limited pool of candidates.” FSU is not expected to make a change at head coach until after the regular season. The Noles reportedly do not have the funds to cover head coach Mike Norvell’s buyout. The Auburn job could come as soon as head coach Hugh Freeze loses another game. It’ll be interesting to see if VT and Franklin wait for FSU to fire Norvell, or if the Hokies can make a compelling enough offer to convince Franklin to move to Blacksburg quickly. For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Game Preview and Final Score Prediction for Virginia Tech vs. LouisvilleThe Hokies look to win against a ranked opponent for the first time since 2021 with Louisville coming to Blacksburg.
Read more »
Virginia Tech's Initial Availability Report vs. No. 16 Louisville: Who's In, Out?14 Hokies were listed as 'out' on Thursday's report.
Read more »
Virginia Tech Women's Soccer Stays Scoreless Against Miami and Ties Season FinaleOn Thursday, the Miami Hurricanes quite literally brought the rain with them, softening Thompson Field enough for a strong defensive battle that ended in a 0-0
Read more »
James Franklin the favorite to be named coach at historic college football programFormer Penn State coach James Franklin has emerged as the favorite at one historic college football program.
Read more »
Final Staff Predictions for Virginia Tech vs. No. 16 LouisvilleFour of the team's writers offer up their picks for who claims tomorrow's Week 10 clash.
Read more »
Report: CFB Analyst States Talks Ongoing Between Virginia Tech and James FranklinA major move could be on the horizon for the Hokies.
Read more »