Penn State has fired head coach James Franklin and begun its search for a replacement. Two candidates have emerged as frontrunners in the early speculation.
Indiana’s Curt Cignetti removed himself from consideration after signing an eight-year, $93 million extension with the Hoosiers.
But another Big Ten coach remains a viable option.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule has strong ties to Penn State. He’s led the Cornhuskers to their first bowl appearance in eight years during just two seasons in Lincoln. Nebraska posted a 7-6 record last season with an underclassman quarterback.
The Cornhuskers started 5-1 last season before struggling down the stretch. They’ve followed a similar pattern this year, sitting at 5-2 but unranked despite early-season momentum.
Rhule’s NFL stint with the Carolina Panthers from 2020-2022 ended poorly. However, most observers attributed that failure to organizational dysfunction rather than coaching ability.
When asked about the Penn State opening, Rhule spoke positively about his alma mater. He played linebacker under Joe Paterno in the mid-90s and later served as a volunteer coach in Happy Valley.
Rhule called Penn State a program he’s “always had great respect for” but stopped short of calling it his dream job.
Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman represents another intriguing possibility. Some question whether leaving South Bend would benefit his career trajectory.
Freeman has compiled a 32-9 record with the Fighting Irish. He led Notre Dame to a 14-2 season and College Football Playoff National Championship appearance last year.
The Irish started this season 0-2 before recovering to reach No. 12 in the current rankings.
Freeman has demonstrated he can change program culture quickly. His track record at Notre Dame includes consistent winning from his first season as head coach.
Whether Freeman would leave a program where he’s already achieved success for one still building toward those goals remains unclear.
Terry Smith has taken over as interim head coach at Penn State. He lost his debut 25-24 to Iowa last weekend.
The Nittany Lions face a difficult stretch with Ohio State and Indiana scheduled in consecutive weeks.
