James Franklin has found himself searching for a new job after being fired by the Penn State Nittany Lions on Oct. 12. He’s a name to watch with the LSU Tigers, Virginia Tech Hokies, Auburn Tigers, Florida Gators and Oklahoma State Cowboys being a few of the teams looking for a new head coach.Franklin has made it clear he still wants to coach, reaffirming on ESPN’s “College GameDay” that his goal remains the same — to win a national championship.AdvertisementDespite his shortcomings with Penn State, his résumé is solid. In his 12 years with the program, he went 104-45 and 6-6 in bowl games.In an article from Pro Football Focus’ Max Chadwick, he lists Franklin as a candidate for Auburn’s head coaching vacancy.Former Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin© Matthew O’Haren-Imagn ImagesThe Tigers are looking to replace Hugh Freeze, who was fired on Nov. 2 following a loss to the Kentucky Wildcats and a 4-5 record through the season’s first nine games.Auburn, which claims nine national championships, has not had a winning season since 2020 or won a bowl game since 2018. However, its resources make it an intriguing option. According to 247Sports, the Tigers’ 2025 NIL collective of $11.58 million is the 16th highest in college football.AdvertisementIt wouldn’t be easy turning the Tigers around, but Franklin does have experience with struggling SEC programs. In 2011, he was hired as the Vanderbilt Commodores’ head coach. He took over for Robbie Caldwell, who had just gone 2-10 the previous season.He immediately made an impact, going 24-15 in three years, including back-to-back 9-4 seasons in 2012 and 2013. Turning Vanderbilt around is what catapulted him into his role with Penn State.While Auburn has struggled recently, its current resources and potential mean it’s not too major a step back from Penn State. If he could succeed with the Tigers, he could even use it as a way to move up similarly, as he did with Vandebrilt.AdvertisementHowever, if Auburn does want to bring Franklin in, it might need to fight off several other schools, as Chadwick also linked him to Florida, Virginia Tech and Arkansas.Related: Florida Predicted to Replace Billy Napier with $54 Million College Football CoachThis story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Nov 14, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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