Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko is off the board, for the Penn State coaching search, after signing a lucrative long-term contract extension. (Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images)
On Saturday morning, another Penn State Football coaching candidate got a new deal. Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko has agreed to a new six-year extension with the Aggies, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, taking one of the big names off the board for the Nittany Lions‘ vacancy to replace James Franklin.
Elko played college football at Penn and has strong northeast roots. Elko coached at Duke prior to taking the Texas A&M job.
Elko has the Aggies primed for a deep playoff run. They slot in at number 3 in the latest College Football Playoff Rankings as they take on South Carolina today, looking to improve to 10-0.
Texas A&M Locks Up Mike Elko With Six-Year Extension
What Elko Staying Means for Penn State’s Coaching Search
Mike Elko was always viewed as a long shot for Penn State to hire, but would widely have been considered a home run.
There had been, though, some recent speculation that Elko was the top name to watch in Penn State’s coaching search, and now Nittany Lions Athletic Director Pat Kraft will need to turn the attention of the search elsewhere.
As things stand, it seems more and more likely that this is Eli Drinkwitz’s job to lose.
Brent Key from Georgia Tech would be another name to monitor. Neither have signed a new contract like Elko, Cignetti, Rhule and others have.
With Penn State now officially missing on Mike Elko, candidates like Manny Diaz, Pat Fitzgerald, and even interim Head Coach, Terry Smith have likely come back into focus.
Time is ticking for Pat Kraft and the Nittany Lions.
Several candidates are off of the board and it seems more and more likely that Penn State will need a head coach before National Signing Day in early December.
Loved this story? Get all our Penn State football coverage and insider updates first. Join our FREE newsletter — your front-row seat to the Lions.
Ian Purdy covers Penn State Football Recruiting for NittanyCentral.
Purdy was born and raised in central Ohio and served for four years writing for his high school's newsletter. Currently studying Biblical Studies at Lancaster Bible College in Pennsylvania, Ian has been a lifelong Nittany Lion fan.
- Source Confirms Pat Kraft’s ‘Genuine Interest’ in Pat Fitzgerald for Penn State Job - November 18, 2025
- James Franklin’s War on Penn State? The Virginia Tech Hire Will Fracture East Coast Recruiting - November 18, 2025
- BREAKING: James Franklin Announced as Head Coach at Virginia Tech - November 17, 2025
About the Author
