What has been speculated for weeks, has finally come to fruition, according to CBS Sports. Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reported late Monday afternoon that Virginia Tech and James Franklin have agreed to a contract that will make Franklin the next coach of the Hokies.
What started out as a hope and a prayer for Virginia Tech appears to have turned into a reality.
The Blacksburg, VA school has agreed to terms with former Penn State University head football coach James Franklin.
Matt Zenitz of CBS confirmed the news late Monday afternoon on social media.
All signs point to Franklin taking over the Hokies. It will be his third coaching stop in the last 15 years. He started at Vanderbilt in 2011 before spending the next 12 seasons in State College, PA. Franklin has enjoyed tremendous success at Penn State before being unceremoniously dumped last month.
Franklin led the Nittany Lions to wins in five of the six New Year's Day bowls. He also led them to the College Football Playoff semifinals following the 2024 season. Penn State would lose to Notre Dame on a last-minute field goal.
One thing that can be said about Franklin is that he is a winner. He has won at every stop. He took Vanderbilt from the lower echelon of the SEC to a national powerhouse. He also inherited a Penn State program that was reeling from the end of sanctions and restored the program to its blue-blood glory.
Franklin also has tremendous experience in recruiting in the DMV. He has recruited in the District, Maryland and Virginia for many years. He should have no problem securing top local talent to come to Tech. It will not be so easy for Virginia to sign all of the DMV top talent.
Part of the deal, as sources indicate, is that Virginia Tech has committed to improving its football facilities and also give Franklin money to get a top-flight coaching staff. Franklin will probably bring some of his Penn State coaches with him, but will also scour the country for the finest position coaches and coordinators that are available.
Tech has not been competitive since Frank Beamer retired. Look for Franklin to turn the Hokies into a top program in the Atlantic Coast Conference in relatively short order.