Report: Virginia Tech, James Franklin Nearing Major Decision After ‘Mutual Interest’ Emerges

Former Penn State head coach James Franklin might not be on the bench for that long.

Virginia Tech has officially opened early conversations with recently fired Franklin, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, and a resolution on his candidacy is expected soon.

This development lands squarely in line with what NittanyCentral outlined weeks ago, when we broke down why Franklin was the most logical fit for the Hokies’ vacancy long before the national outlets connected the dots.

The Hokies are running a full search, but multiple sources told ESPN that Franklin and Virginia Tech have clear, mutual interest.

That alone validates the premise of our original piece, which pointed out how Franklin’s regional recruiting footprint, CEO style, and roster-building track record matched every need Virginia Tech has right now.

The Hokies dismissed Brent Pry on September 14 following a 45 to 26 loss to Old Dominion that dropped the program to 0 and 3. The job has been trending toward a major overhaul ever since, which is exactly why Franklin’s name has made so much sense, at least to us, from the moment the Langhorne, PA native became available.

Franklin’s ability to rebuild quickly, reopen the DMV pipeline, and to energize a stale brand wallowing in mediocrity at best, placed him at the top of any realistic candidate short list in Blacksburg.

Virginia Tech, James Franklin Begin Conversations

James Franklin’s Resume: Flawed, But Ideal for Virginia Tech

Franklin was fired by Penn State on October 12 after twelve seasons and a stunning three-game skid, but despite his record against top-10 teams, 4-21, his résumé still remains one of the strongest available. He produced 104 wins, six double-digit win seasons, a Big Ten championship, and a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance. He rebuilt Vanderbilt and resurrected Penn State from major sanctions and national embarrassment to national relevance and respectability, two projects that mirror the type of foundational reset Virginia Tech is seeking now.

Those exact reasons are why we wrote weeks ago that he was the ideal candidate to land in Blacksburg.

His regional ties matter.

His understanding of modern roster construction matters.

His ability to generate momentum, attract transfers, and sell a new vision matters.

The Hokies have been missing an identity, recruiting traction, and leadership. The last and only time they were relevant, was back in 2000, the only time they ever played for a national title, in just the second year of the BCS.  Franklin specializes in all three of the aforementioned phases.

Why This Move Has Been Coming for Weeks

The early talks are not surprising. They are the natural next step of a story that has been building since the moment Virginia Tech opened its search. The fit is obvious, the needs are mutually aligned, and the timeline matches the urgency.

Virginia Tech is interested. Franklin is, too.

This is the scenario we anticipated from the start, and now it is moving toward a real conclusion, one that works for both sides.

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