With other college coaching jobs being filled, when will Penn State’s search end?
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Penn State fires James Franklin
The James Franklin era is over at Penn State.
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Penn State’s coaching search has hit Day 50 and an end is drawing closer. The Nittany Lions have interviewed and vetted plenty of candidates, and it’s nearing time for them to make a decision on who will lead the team out of the Beaver Stadium tunnel next season.
They are in search of a new head coach to succeed James Franklin, who was fired by athletic director Pat Kraft on Oct. 12 and has since accepted the head coaching position at Virginia Tech. He and others have filled several of the vacated roles around college football, while Penn State remains open.
When will Kraft make a decision? What factors are at play in that timeline? Let’s take a look.
What dates matter most to Penn State?
Right now, the most important dates to know are the early national signing period, which begins Wednesday, and the opening of the transfer portal window on Jan. 2. The first date is likely of no concern to the Nittany Lions, while the second is far enough away that it shouldn’t have much of an impact. Getting a coach before the early signing period would allow the Nittany Lions to retain and recruit high school seniors to be a part of Penn State’s freshman class next year — largely because that’s when most of the incoming freshmen will sign. While it would be ideal to have a coach in before recruits can begin signing, it is not vital and will not likely change Penn State’s timeline, because a new coach will still be able to build out a team through the portal.
When are candidates likely to accept?
With no coach being named at the end of the regular season, the next two windows are after more games are played. The first is after conference championships are over on Friday and Saturday, and the next is after the first round of the College Football Playoff on Dec. 19 and 20. Beyond that, the ensuing opportunities are after the second round (Dec. 31 and Jan. 1), the semifinals (Jan. 8 and 9) and the championship game (Jan. 19).
When should Penn State fans expect a hire?
Penn State’s most likely time frame for hiring a candidate is between Dec. 6 and Dec. 19. The early signing period will likely not be a factor, given that it’s two days away and a hire has not been made at this point. While there has been increased anxiety among fans that a hire has not been made, the timeline is likely in place for a reason — with a candidate who is still coaching in meaningful games being the most likely option.
This story was originally published December 1, 2025 at 3:19 PM.
