Rumors have started swirling about the coaching opening in Happy Valley and who might succeed James Franklin at Penn State. Franklin’s tenure has been steady, sometimes polarizing. He had a winning team most seasons than not in the Big Ten. Howeverer, he did not win the big games. In the world of college football championships are everything, and after three straight losses he was fired.
Brent Key’s name surfacing is no surprise. After all, he’s quietly transforming Georgia Tech into one of the more intriguing programs in the ACC. But if the Nittany Lions were to call, here’s why it probably wouldn’t, happen.
Matt Rhule’s name is going to come up a lot. Penn State alum, grew up in State College, and connected with Penn State AD Pat Kraft, who was at Temple with Rhule.
— Mike Conti (@MikeConti929) October 12, 2025
If I were Georgia Tech, I’d be trying to protect Brent Key at all costs. https://t.co/dCDePRQKQO
Brent Key and Georgia Tech Are Simply a Better Fit
Key is more than just Georgia Tech’s head coach. He is part of the program’s DNA. A Tech graduate, Alabama native, and a career-long coach at programs south of the Mason-Dixon line, Key embodies the cultural and football identity of the South. He understands the recruiting landscape, the rivalries, and the expectations that come with building a sustainable program in the ACC.
That connection matters. Georgia Tech isn’t just a job for him. It's home, and that kind of alignment between coach and school is rare, and powerful.
Penn State’s Future Isn’t About Brent Key
If and when Penn State ever looks for new leadership, there will be other names that fit better. Both stylistically and geographically. The Nittany Lions’ culture, recruiting base, and Big Ten brand call for someone who matches the region and the program’s particular DNA.
Key, meanwhile, is building something that could make Georgia Tech a consistent contender in the ACC. He is restoring relevance to a proud program that had fallen off the national radar. And for now, he has a good thing going on The Flats.
The bottom line is Brent Key to Penn State is a fun hypothetical, but that is all it is, hypothetical. Georgia Tech and Brent Key are a perfect match, and Penn State, has other coaching options, who are a better fit for their program.
Sometimes, the best move is no move at all.