Seriously, can you picture James Franklin calling the Hogs at Arkansas? Um, no.
How about UCLA’s opening? The Bruins need a program builder. The former Penn State coach is that, even if he almost always loses the big games. Franklin in Westwood might make sense if he didn’t just lose to UCLA. Imagine that introductory news conference: ‘We’re pleased to announce we hired the coach that couldn’t beat our interim coach.’
That’s a tough sell.
Franklin was in his 12th season at Penn State with a 104-45 overall record and led the Nittany Lions to the semifinals of the playoff last season.
Franklin, who was fired Sunday after three straight losses, might fit best at a Big Ten job that’s not yet open but where the coach sits on a scalding hot seat. I’m talking about Wisconsin. Franklin went 4-0 against the Badgers at Penn State, including a triumph in the 2016 Big Ten Championship.
Franklin can afford to be patient and enjoy the fruits of $49 million buyout bliss.
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.
