James Franklin Quiet on Virginia Tech Job as He Waits on Bigger Opportunity

James Franklin may be done at Penn State, but he is still a big name in the coaching world. Over the weekend, he showed up at the Old Dominion vs. Troy game, where two of his former Penn State assistants were coaching. Even though he said he was only there to support them, the visit quickly brought new questions about his next move — especially the open job at Virginia Tech.

Before the game, reporter David Teel asked James Franklin if he was interested in the Hokies’ job. Franklin stayed polite but didn’t give any answer. He simply said he came to see Old Dominion’s Ricky Rahne and Troy’s Gerad Parker, two coaches who worked under him at Penn State. Recent projections had Franklin at about a 50% chance of landing the Virginia Tech job, which opened after Brent Pry’s exit. But now he is also linked to other programs, including Arkansas, which reportedly has a slight edge in the latest odds.

James Franklin’s appearance at ODU wasn’t about job talks, but it did show how close he is to both coaches. Rahne worked his way up under Franklin at Penn State before becoming Old Dominion’s head coach. Parker is a longtime friend whom Franklin hired as a wide receivers coach. With both coaches competing in the same game, Franklin said he was simply there to support them, not to add fuel to rumors.

Still, a move to Virginia Tech could shake up recruiting. Three Penn State recruits — Tyson Harley, Elijah Littlejohn, and Messiah Mickens — all committed while Franklin was in charge. If he ends up in Blacksburg, those players could consider flipping. Harley, a 6-foot-4 edge rusher, already had Virginia Tech on his list before choosing Penn State. Littlejohn, a four-star linebacker, has big SEC offers, but his connection to Franklin could help the Hokies. Mickens, a strong 2026 running back from Harrisburg, was one of Franklin’s early commits.

But Franklin seems to be waiting for something even bigger — the Florida State job. That spot is not open yet, but everyone is watching the situation. Current FSU coach Mike Norvell has a massive $72.2 million buyout, which makes things difficult. Still, Florida State is a top job with strong NIL backing, big budgets, and some of the best facilities in the country. It also pays more than Franklin’s old Penn State deal.

James Franklin has often said he needs strong resources to “win at the highest level,” and Florida State fits that vision. If Norvell’s situation changes, Franklin could become a top candidate and negotiate an even bigger contract.

For now, James Franklin is taking his time. Virginia Tech wants a decision. Arkansas is interested. But Franklin seems to be waiting to see if the Florida State job opens up — the one role that could change everything for him.

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