Wide receiver Devonte Ross has been among Penn State's most consistent playmakers. (Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images)
James Franklin’s exit didn’t just end an era … it ripped open the biggest identity crisis the program has faced in over a decade. Penn State isn’t simply replacing a head coach. The Nittany Lions are redefining who they want to be, how they plan to win, and what it will take to finally climb past Michigan, Ohio State, and Oregon.
After the calls for Franklin’s job were finally answered, Penn State finds itself at a crossroads.
As Athletic Director Pat Kraft and Penn State continue their search for Franklin’s replacement, there are several boxes the right candidate must check in order to lift the program into college football’s elite tier.
What Penn State Needs in Its Next Head Coach
A Modern Offense That Instills Fear
This program has always been known for smash mouth football, and a stifling defense.
From Saquon Barkley and Miles Sanders to Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton on the offensive side of the ball and Micah Parsons and Abdul Carter and the defensive side.
But when was the last time that Penn State had a passing attack that kept opposing defensive coordinators up at night? Joe Moorhead? He left the program following the 2017 campaign.
Pat Kraft has to be looking for a coach who can help get the passing game on track. It’s essential to competing with the big dogs.
A Recruiter Built for the NIL Era
Franklin had done an outstanding job of brining in a solid class of recruits to the Nittany Lions, frequently ranking in the top 20 in the country. Franklin didn’t have nearly as much NIL money to work with as Ohio state or even Michigan, but what he was able to do was respectable.
It took more than a decade for Franklin to get top donors and the administration to spend at a level that even comes close to competing with the Buckeyes, Wolverines, and Ducks.
That spending needs to continue to accelerate to keep pace in the modern world of college football.
Likewise, the next head coach has to be able to develop players, not just bring them in via the transfer portal or with NIL money.
According to HeatCheck, Ohio State ranks 4th in the country with an NIL fund of $63.6 million. Michigan ranks 4th in the B1G and 12th in the country with $44.2 million.
Penn State comes in 7th in the B1G and 17th in the country with $39.2 million.
Those figures need to rise, if the Nittany Lions are going to have a chance at contending for a national championship.
With such a big gap in NIL money, the abilities to earn loyalty and to develop players are essential. This is an area Franklin and his culture thrived; recruiting lesser players than PSU’s top rivals, on the back of the culture rather than the size of the NIL paycheck.
The next coach will need to be able to do this at an even higher level.
A Leader Who Can Win Immediately
Sports programs and fan bases have gotten spoiled, in some regards, leading to a minuscule amount of patience when it comes to success.
Washington, Indiana, and Oregon have shown that the right coach can turn a program around right away (but it’s not always that simple).
Some of those wins have to be in the recruiting game.
Franklin is already looking to poach recruits, so a new coach has to prioritize keeping those recruits — and the players currently on the roster, locked in.
Likewise, Penn State has some incredible talent that must stay out of the transfer portal. If the new hire can’t keep the roster mostly intact, it could spell trouble.
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Someone Who Can Beat Ohio State, Michigan, and Oregon
This was Franklin’s undoing.
Ultimately, this is a culmination of all other points made.
Fans grew tired of losing in blowouts and heartbreakers alike in the moments that mattered the most.
For all of the good that can be attributed to Franklin, it only amounted to one Big Ten Championship, two conference title game appearances, and one trip to the College Football Playoff.
The fanbase, the administration, and the entire university need to see more.
After all, “with great power comes great responsibility.”
Penn State Coaching Search Hot Board Narrows: Who’s Still in the Running After Major Extensions?
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- Penn State’s Next Head Coach: What the Nittany Lions Need in Post-James Franklin Era - November 22, 2025
- Penn State Football: The Pros and Cons of Firing James Franklin - October 8, 2025
- James Franklin and Penn State Both Need a Fresh Start | JOHNSON - October 4, 2025
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