Penn State’s search to identify James Franklin’s replacement is expected to be both exhaustive and comprehensive. Everyone has opinions and feelings on the process, but with the confidentiality surrounding coaching searches, much of what circulates publicly is speculation.
Below is my updated hot board, broken into three tiers.
Crazy Flip
A dream scenario with less than a 5% chance of happening.
College football has delivered several stunning coaching flips in recent years—Lincoln Riley to USC, Brian Kelly to LSU—so nothing is impossible.
Candidate: Kalen DeBoer — Alabama Head Coach
Mike Elko appeared to be in the mix before Texas A&M announced a massive extension ahead of their game against South Carolina. This is also why Brent Key drops from consideration. From what’s being discussed, athletic director Pat Kraft is staying aggressive with elite targets and forcing them to say “no.” DeBoer returns to the “crazy flip” tier because there appears to have been some level of engagement between the two sides.
Best of the Rest
Coaches who fall just outside my Top 5 but warrant serious consideration.
Eli Drinkwitz — Missouri Head Coach
Drinkwitz lands in this tier because there’s growing chatter that he may be the SEC coach who makes a jump. With Ole Miss giving Lane Kiffin an ultimatum to commit before the Egg Bowl, the Rebels are signaling that he needs to focus on the College Football Playoff rather than being the “irresistible Southern Belle” constantly courted by other programs.
If Kiffin stays, attention could shift to Drinkwitz, with Auburn and Florida expected to pursue him aggressively. Penn State will likely be involved, but I believe its priorities lie elsewhere.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Eric Morris — North Texas Head Coach
Morris debuts on the board and deserves real attention. A Mike Leach disciple, he has coached quarterbacks such as Connor Halliday, Patrick Mahomes, and Cameron Ward. His North Texas offense ranks second nationally in scoring (44.4 PPG), led by Drew Mestemaker—who leads the conference in passing yards, touchdowns, yards per attempt, and efficiency rating.
Hot Board: Top 5 Candidates
#5 Kliff Kingsbury — Washington Commanders Offensive Coordinator
Kingsbury drops this cycle. Has his interest in the Penn State job cooled? The difficulty of the early stages of college coaching is the constant recruiting of prep athletes, portal players, and your own roster may be a deterrent compared to the more controlled pace of the NFL.
#4 Pat Fitzgerald — Free Agent
Fitzgerald was the “safe pick” on my last hot board, and his name continues to gain traction as top candidates sign extensions. The question is whether he’ll gain enough traction. While he was praised for doing more with less, the collapse in his final two seasons at Northwestern (4–20) still looms large. His availability and Big Ten experience, however, keep him firmly in the conversation.
#3 Matt Campbell — Iowa State Head Coach
Ryan Silverfield’s Memphis squad has stumbled in recent weeks, likely knocking him from the Group of Five at-large race and potentially into Arkansas’s crosshairs now that Franklin is officially Virginia Tech’s head coach. That could become a “crazy flip,” but it’s merely chatter.
Campbell’s name has surfaced at random intervals during this search. Historically, he has remained extremely loyal to Iowa State, even when programs like USC have pursued him. A three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year and the winningest coach in Iowa State history, Campbell is a disciple of Mount Union legend Larry Kehres and still holds strong stock.
#2 Brian Hartline — Ohio State Offensive Coordinator
Hartline is the clear top option among first-time head coaching candidates. It feels like only a matter of time before he leads his own program. The question: could he build a machine opposite college football’s top program, similar to how Kirby Smart replicated Alabama’s dynasty at Georgia? There are still concerns about how much Ryan Day insulates him in playcalling. More importantly, is Hartline fully ready for a job of this magnitude?
#1 Bob Chesney — James Madison Head Coach
Chesney is rapidly becoming a coveted name. With James Madison in prime position for its first College Football Playoff appearance via the Group of Five at-large bid, his stock is rising fast. The Kulpmont, Pennsylvania native has won nine conference or divisional championships across four levels of college football. If JMU secures a CFP berth, Chesney’s profile will only strengthen.
