The college football coaching carousel is spinning faster than an amusement park ride. This year’s ride took another sharp turn on Sunday when LSU moved on from Brian Kelly. With LSU, Florida, Penn State, UCLA and Oklahoma State all searching for their next leader, this is shaping up to be one of the wildest hiring cycles in recent memory.
Add Virginia Tech to that list. The Hokies may not have the national pull of the SEC blue bloods, but for the right coach, Blacksburg could be one of the most attractive jobs available. Long-time fans remember when Virginia Tech was a force—an ACC contender that reached the BCS National Championship with Michael Vick and routinely lived inside the Top 10.
Since legendary coach Frank Beamer retired, however, the program has slipped. Virginia Tech enjoyed 11 double-digit win seasons in a 13-year stretch under Beamer. Since his departure after the 2015 season, the Hokies have managed just one. Postseason trips that once led to Orange Bowls and Sugar Bowls were replaced with Belk and Pinstripe Bowls. Momentum has faded, and national relevance has followed.
That is why the newest rumor buzzing around the ACC has grabbed everyone’s attention: former Penn State head coach James Franklin is reportedly in serious talks to take over at Virginia Tech.
Franklin’s name surfaced almost immediately after his exit from Penn State, but conversations over the last 24 hours have turned whispers into something worth watching. If hired, it would be the Hokies’ biggest splash in over a decade, and could send ripple effects across the ACC, including for programs like Georgia Tech.
Virginia Tech cut ties with Brent Pry on September 14 after a 16–24 record over three-plus seasons. The program needs energy, recruiting power, and a proven winner. Franklin checks all three boxes.
James Franklin would be a fantastic hire for Virginia Tech, the kind of grab that would make the Hokies immediately relevant again near the top of the ACC.
— Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) October 29, 2025
Recruiting Impact
A Pennsylvania native familiar with the Mid-Atlantic footprint, Franklin previously coached at Maryland, James Madison, and then Penn State, where he consistently recruited the Virginia talent pipeline. He led the Nittany Lions to seven Top-12 College Football Playoff rankings in nine seasons and five New Year’s Six bowl wins. While critics point out his struggles against top-ranked opponents, there’s no denying his sustained success.
For Franklin, the ACC may also offer a more manageable path to the Playoff. After years of fighting Ohio State and Michigan—and now Oregon—in the Big Ten, the ACC landscape looks more open. Clemson isn’t the powerhouse it once was, and the conference is searching for its next flagship program. With the 12-team Playoff format beginning, the timing could be ideal for a fresh start.
Landing Franklin would instantly bring buzz back to Blacksburg and raise the competitive bar in the ACC. For Georgia Tech and head coach Brent Key—who is building momentum of his own—a high-profile hire like this would only elevate expectations across the conference.
It’s not a done deal yet, but this move feels like one that benefits both sides. And if Franklin ends up in maroon and orange, the ACC may soon look a lot different—and a lot more competitive.