***2025-26 CFB Coaching Carousel***

[Clonehomer]

I get that...but will kids want to come to that style of play? I mean the elite kids? I do keep waiting for the pendulum to swing back toward a running-first game of football.

Elite WR? No. Elite linemen, TEs and RBs? Maybe.

I can’t imagine being a defensive coordinator that has to develop a scheme to stop a high powered passing attack like tOSU and a ball control offense like Army back to back. And while the Big10 does still have bruising running games, the defenses aren’t recruiting to put 8 in the box anymore. I think the pendulum is ready to swing for a top level team to make that move.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Elite WR? No. Elite linemen, TEs and RBs? Maybe.

I can’t imagine being a defensive coordinator that has to develop a scheme to stop a high powered passing attack like tOSU and a ball control offense like Army back to back. And while the Big10 does still have bruising running games, the defenses aren’t recruiting to put 8 in the box anymore. I think the pendulum is ready to swing for a top level team to make that move.

That’s how Michigan won a natty

 

[Clark]

If I were PSU I’d go completely different and get a physical ball control style coach. You aren’t going to outdo tOSU in a pass oriented offense. Not thinking to go full option attack, but maybe? Zig when the rest of the conference zags type of thing.

I get that...but will kids want to come to that style of play? I mean the elite kids? I do keep waiting for the pendulum to swing back toward a running-first game of football.

This is something you might do at Nebraska or Iowa, not sure you do it at Penn St. They already recruit very well, this isn't a situation where you need to rebuild anything. They just need someone who doesn't pucker up every time they're in a big game with a team with similar talent.

 

[cycloneworld]

This is something you might do at Nebraska or Iowa, not sure you do it at Penn St. They already recruit very well, this isn't a situation where you need to rebuild anything. They just need someone who doesn't pucker up every time they're in a big game with a team with similar talent.

I still think that Penn State's lack of an elite QB is the reason for their "stall", not the coaching staff. I would be a good sum of money that James Franklin will be very successful at his next stop.

 

[ScottyP]

many have mentioned Nate Scheelhaase as a successor to Campbell. Honestly some of these bigger programs should consider him. Good recruiter and part of the Sean McVay coaching tree. He would bring a modern NFL offense to a college program and elite QBs would flock to a coach who runs that offense to prepare them for the NFL.

He is likely an NFL head coach within five years so not sure he would consider, but if I were an AD, I would give him serious consideration if I were Penn State or Wisconsin (if it opens).

 

[isu81]

I still think that Penn State's lack of an elite QB is the reason for their "stall", not the coaching staff. I would be a good sum of money that James Franklin will be very successful at his next stop.

Don't disagree Franklin will be successful, but Drew Allar was one of the best QB in the country.

 

[EnkAMania]

That’s how Michigan won a natty

I came here to say the same thing. He was able to recruit Cade McNamara, so the best will play in that system.

 

[JP4CY]

Looks like James Franklin interviewed at VA Tech. That would be a good fit i think. Plus, for the first contract anyway he has no incentive to ask for much money so there should be more to spend on players and staff.

I feel like that would be a great fit. State College and Blacksburg are both similar type of towns.

 

[Clonehomer]

Don't disagree Franklin will be successful, but Drew Allar was one of the best QB in the country.

I know Drew Allar was always called one of the best QBs in the country, but I don’t know that I ever saw him play like the best in the country. He was always more hype than performance

 

[SolterraCyclone]

This is something you might do at Nebraska or Iowa, not sure you do it at Penn St. They already recruit very well, this isn't a situation where you need to rebuild anything. They just need someone who doesn't pucker up every time they're in a big game with a team with similar talent.

After looking into Penn State more, this program seems kind of overrated. They haven’t won a national championship since 1986. Not sure where the idea came from that the national championship should be the standard in State College.

They’ve won 4 B10 titles since joining the conference (31 years) and one of those wins was under Franklin. They made the national semis last year, which seems to me that, that is the program’s ceiling given its history.

I also question how rich this program is. One of the reasons they can fund football (and some other sports) so well is they invest literally nothing into men’s basketball. They totally ignore the second-most popular sport in college athletics.

 

[isucy86]

He is spot on.

Athletic Directors are part of the issue, but Brando makes no mention of university Presidents. Last time I looked they are the CEO of the university so the good/bad is ultimately their doing.

Maybe the elephant in the room is university presidents have become puppets of wealthy donors. A billionaire can no longer buy an NBA, NFL or MLB franchise, but they can pull the strings on a P4 university.

 

[isucy86]

I get that...but will kids want to come to that style of play? I mean the elite kids? I do keep waiting for the pendulum to swing back toward a running-first game of football.

With advent of the RPO college football has shifted back toward an emphasis on running the ball. Not many teams are running air-raid type offenses throwing 35+ times a game. Look at the Big 12, all the top teams have strong running games. The big difference is most big time college running games count on yards from their QB.

But I get your point, I'd love for a blue-blood program to go 1970's Oklahoma wishbone or Nebraska I-option. With S&C being an emphasis at all P4 schools, IMO it's pretty tough to be a just run team and be elite.

 

[JEFF420]

Athletic Directors are part of the issue, but Brando makes no mention of university Presidents. Last time I looked they are the CEO of the university so the good/bad is ultimately their doing.

Maybe the elephant in the room is university presidents have become puppets of wealthy donors. A billionaire can no longer buy an NBA, NFL or MLB franchise, but they can pull the strings on a P4 university.

wait until you figure out everyone in an position of power is a puppet for the wealthy......

 

[Clark]

After looking into Penn State more, this program seems kind of overrated. They haven’t won a national championship since 1986. Not sure where the idea came from that the national championship should be the standard in State College.

They’ve won 4 B10 titles since joining the conference (31 years) and one of those wins was under Franklin. They made the national semis last year, which seems to me that, that is the program’s ceiling given its history.

I also question how rich this program is. One of the reasons they can fund football (and some other sports) so well is they invest literally nothing into men’s basketball. They totally ignore the second-most popular sport in college athletics.

Yes they made the semi finals last year, they beat Boise St and SMU to do it.

Had they beaten Oregon and Texas to get to the semi finals last year, Franklin would still be the coach.

Part of Franklin's problem is he is apparently one of those people that grate on you over time.

 

[Kinch]

Athletic Directors are part of the issue, but Brando makes no mention of university Presidents. Last time I looked they are the CEO of the university so the good/bad is ultimately their doing.

Maybe the elephant in the room is university presidents have become puppets of wealthy donors. A billionaire can no longer buy an NBA, NFL or MLB franchise, but they can pull the strings on a P4 university.

Presidents long ceded control, especially in the Power 2. The early 1960s is the last era that the Big 10 presidents were in total control. I think there was a tug of war between Woody Hayes and the OSU president in the the 1960s and football won out. Look at LSU and all the dysfunction there.

 

[cytor]

I love it that the Bluebloods of college football are now WAY overpaying their coaches for that "WIN THE NATTY NOW" season. And when it becomes apparent in year #2 or 3 that it isn't working, they will way overpay them to leave .... then way overpay their next coach. Rinse and repeat.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

But school like the Blue bloods have the tv money to make a mistake and correct it by canning the guy and trying again. But when they are paying their coaches that much, that forces the smaller schools like ISU to up the price they must pay a good coach to keep him around. They have the money to rinse and repeat, we don't.

 

[cytor]

But school like the Blue bloods have the tv money to make a mistake and correct it by canning the guy and trying again. But when they are paying their coaches that much, that forces the smaller schools like ISU to up the price they must pay a good coach to keep him around. They have the money to rinse and repeat, we don't.

I agree they have way more money than ISU, BUT a $50 million buyout is a huge bite out of anyone's budget.

 

[Kinch]

But school like the Blue bloods have the tv money to make a mistake and correct it by canning the guy and trying again. But when they are paying their coaches that much, that forces the smaller schools like ISU to up the price they must pay a good coach to keep him around. They have the money to rinse and repeat, we don't.

I know what you are saying and don’t necessarily disagree, but I think they are coming to the realization that the TV money will only take them so far. That’s why many Big 10 schools signed up for the payday loan from Private Equity. Makes it tough like you said for schools in the Big 12, but Jamie has managed pretty good so far. That’s what it takes.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

I agree they have way more money than ISU, BUT a $50 million buyout is a huge bite out of anyone's budget.

It is but for many it's not like they have to come up with the entire amount all at once. They just end up paying for two coaches and their staff for the next decade or so. So Penn State will be paying Franklin a set amount just like he is coaching for them. There was one guy that was fired that did have an upfront payout of $25 million, but most don't.

Its hard for these schools that are in the B10 and SEC and rolling in the media money not to keep shelling out the biggest contract if they want to keep their fan base and more important their boosters happy. It's a never ending cycle that only will stop when the money runs out.