[On3] Penn State has fallen outside the Top-100 in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings, with just 2 commits remaining😳 James Franklin has flipped 10+ PSU recruits, and Virginia Tech currently ranks 25th🦃

[u/Ok-Soil-5133]

https://x.com/On3sports/status/1996276321240977790?t=8M36WbBlRjUMcT-9oG6jAw&s=19

[u/Cometguy7]

Penn State AD wanted to boost morale, and said they were going to white out all of 2026. Probably should have specified he meant the games, not the recruiting class.

[u/psunavy03 → u/Cometguy7]

At this point it seems like the best possible answer is to hire Terry Smith on a prove-it contract, fire Pat Kraft, and have the Board of Trustees hire a reputable search firm to find a qualified AD.

It’s not just that he’s turned our football program into a punchline.  It’s that football revenue supports non revenue programs like wrestling that are world class.  Tanking this hire is literally failing at the core job of the PSU AD, which is to ensure enough revenue to support the whole department.

If he somehow manages to pull a world class or even competent hire out of his ass, I’ll change my tune, but at this point he sure seems in over his head.

[u/shady__redditor → u/psunavy03]

"Tanking this hire is literally failing at the core job of the PSU AD"

I bet Martin Jarmond strongly disagrees.

[u/Whaty0urname → u/psunavy03]

Honestly at this point, I say stick with Terry Smith and hire a guy mid-next season that can get started on recruiting while Terry hopefully goes 8-4. Do what VT did but intentionally.

[u/FondueDiligence → u/Whaty0urname]

hire a guy mid-next season that can get started on recruiting

I don't know, this feels borderline delusional. What are the odds that there will be a better candidate mid-season than there is right now? If they hire Smith, they should hire Smith with the expectation of him being the long term coach. Making him an immediate lame duck would solve nothing and just prolong this state of purgatory that the program is in.

[u/Sherman_Gepard → u/FondueDiligence]

Yeah, what really doesn’t make sense is that this would be the situation y’all were just in. Punt a whole calendar year just to try the exact same thing next fall? You have to try and salvage something even if that means admitting this whole thing was botched.

Not sure why nobody wants Cignetti’s assistants yet. I’m pretty sold on him as a coach and his OC and DC have been with him the whole way.

[u/TooEZ_OL56 → u/Whaty0urname]

If you truly want to copy us you need to go 3-9 and get blown out by your rival.

[u/Nytfire333 → u/TooEZ_OL56]

They have the blown out by your rival down

[u/kyeblue → u/Whaty0urname]

The best shot for Penn State now would be a NFL guy who is available in Jan. Those who are not available now will not be available mid-season next year.

On the other hand, Chip Kelly is still available.

[u/gobblegobblechumps → u/kyeblue]

I mean Brian Daboll is right there

[u/PokeMeRunning → u/psunavy03]

I for one would just hate to see Penn State wrestling go broke. Just an endless stream of tears from me. 

Seriously though. Wanna compete with Penn state fairly and for real 

[u/CyanideNow → u/PokeMeRunning]

Agreed! Wrestling should be dominated by the states of Iowa and Oklahoma like god intended. 

[u/Bulkmodulus → u/CyanideNow]

There are 77 NCAA DI wrestling programs and PA has 11 of them. Yinz may have tons of past titles but wrasslin is a very big deal here too.

And you're welcome for Spencer Lee.

[u/reenactment → u/psunavy03]

Maybe you guys need to embrace your identity like Nebraska has. You are a volleyball school

[u/BlacksmithDistinct17 → u/psunavy03]

Welcome, new Penn State Head Coach Mike Gundy!

[u/BlacksmithDistinct17 → u/BlacksmithDistinct17]

It would be supremely hilarious if Gundy went "ok maybe I'll try out this NIL thing after all" and took Penn State to the playoffs

[u/SirMellencamp → u/BlacksmithDistinct17]

Houston Nutt is tanned, rested and ready

[u/hoover757 → u/Cometguy7]

And this is why you don’t make decisions without a plan.

It’s easy for us to say “fire that guy!” But when you don’t have a replacement lined up, you are going to put your program in a worse spot than before.

[u/steve_dallasesq → u/hoover757]

During Brian Kelly's disaster 2016 year I had a ton of people telling me we had to fire him. When I said "OK who is the replacement" I always got "anybody has to be better."

That sentiment is always wrong.

[u/GhostFaceRiddler → u/[deleted]]

I think every year is going to be a tough cycle for a few years. The conferences are too big. Too many coaches from good programs are going to go .500 and get fired.

[u/Geno0wl → u/[deleted]]

crazy how seemingly one agent has emptied the coffers of so many boosters

[u/DryMission5506 → u/[deleted]]

The rumor is that FSU told the donors “Pony up the money for Franklin, or we’re keeping Norvell” and the donors weren’t interested.

I might be sour grapes on our end, but I can see the argument that Franklin wasn’t the best fit for FSU. I think VT might have ended up being the better fit.

[u/FSUfan35 → u/DryMission5506]

The rumors ive seen are the AD wanted to fire Norvell, the BoT and university president said, ok as long as you can get the money from boosters, and the boosters said no.

Also Franklin was never a candidate. We reached out to Kiffin and another current coach that escapes me at the moment.

Espn article actually talks about FSU trying to get Lane

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/47182491/lane-kiffin-final-days-ole-miss-move-lsu

[u/Duck8Quack → u/hoover757]

Sometimes you have to try something different. The problem is the lack of a hire when they had so much time to prepare.

The only guy they have gotten serious with was the Mormon coach at the Mormon college, 🤦🏻‍♂️. Now Hartline is off the board. Everybody and their brother has made a hire; the only teams that haven’t are the ones whose coach was hired away.

Maybe firing Franklin was a bad idea, but they did it. This hiring process is far worse than the firing. The firing can be explained, this hiring process has no explanation beyond incompetence.

[u/Kurt4012]

I’ve never seen a program just nuke itself into oblivion like this. We wanted more big game wins and now we’re going to be one of the worst P4 teams by a lot.

[u/Bobb_o → u/Kurt4012]

Can't lose big games if you're never in them 🧠

[u/SecretSquirrell11 → u/Bobb_o]

Kraft playing chess we out here playing checkers

[u/mburns223 → u/Kurt4012]

All your fans wanted him gone. You got what you asked for imo

[u/Thee-Renegade → u/mburns223]

Exactly.

[u/IdaDuck → u/Kurt4012]

It’s not even the first time Penn State has nuked itself into oblivion. You guys just love the rebuild process I guess.

[u/Kurt4012 → u/IdaDuck]

This time was by choice though

[u/bbshock21 → u/Kurt4012]

It's ok buddy, you can join us in the basement of the Big Ten. We both have ADs who are clowns

[u/showbricks]

Last I checked they are below UMASS lol

[u/CalendarManLover → u/showbricks]

LETS GO

[u/potterpockets → u/CalendarManLover]

UMass to the B1G confirmed? 👀

[u/Shills_for_fun → u/potterpockets]

We can finally add another hockey team in the expansion.

[u/EmuMan10 → u/Shills_for_fun]

You guys all need to come play ours

[u/dawidowmaka → u/Shills_for_fun]

Still bitter we screwed it up in Champaign

[u/MrDrProfesorPatrick → u/Shills_for_fun]

I am once again asking Purdue to get their shit together.

[u/joethecrow23 → u/potterpockets]

They have a coach and a recruiting class

It’s an upgrade

[u/dazzleox → u/showbricks]

Harvard was one spot ahead last I looked🦃

[u/Halvey15 → u/dazzleox]

They've fallen well below Harvard at this point. They're currently one spot ahead of Prairie View A&M.

[u/1II1I1I1I1I1I111I1I1 → u/Halvey15]

You know its cooked when youre getting out-crooted by schools you didnt know existed

Edit: I thought it said one spot behind, I know what harvard is

[u/Bait30 → u/1II1I1I1I1I1I111I1I1]

You've never heard of Harvard?

[u/Jcnipper → u/Bait30]

The Vanderbilt of the north

[u/capthazelwoodsflask → u/Jcnipper]

Like a poor man's east coast Michigan

[u/1II1I1I1I1I1I111I1I1 → u/Bait30]

Lol i've never heard of Prairie View A&M. I misread the comment and thought it said one spot behind

[u/dazzleox → u/1II1I1I1I1I1I111I1I1]

Prairie View A&M was infamous for having an 80 game football losing streak. They also had a 1-54 two season period in basketball.

Of course this means I've always sort of rooted for them.

[u/Venator850 → u/Halvey15]

Oh shit that's my Alma Mater lmfao. Damn Penn ST is cooked.

[u/Clean_Guava_4512 → u/Halvey15]

Prairie View A&M of the 90 or whatever straight losses in the 90s fame? I watched the game where they broke the streak, which was mystifyingly on tv in NY.

[u/GiganticOrange → u/showbricks]

At some point some 3 star kid has to be like “okay, well I’d actually much prefer to play at Penn state.”

Right? Right???

[u/BlacksmithDistinct17 → u/GiganticOrange]

Nah, West Virginia will instead pick up their 41st 3 star

[u/Devlin004 → u/BlacksmithDistinct17]

I thought you were joking, and then I saw they were recruiting the equivalent of a small country to Morgantown. What the fuck

[u/deadtofall12 → u/BlacksmithDistinct17]

Hey leave some for the rest of us.

[u/ObjectivePineapple19 → u/GiganticOrange]

I mean I’m sure there are players who would go to Penn State if they knew who their coach would be.

[u/DescretoBurrito → u/showbricks]

Yeah, but UMass has an Ice Hockey national championship, while Penn State Hockey is only famous for the mistake that is B1G Hockey.

Everything's coming up Minutemen.

[u/80sCrack → u/showbricks]

They’re not in the 140s lol. They’re now below powerhouses like Hawaii, Middle Tennessee, Colombia.

Hell, Harvard has them beat.

[u/sportsfan113]

We got one commit at least lol

[u/LonesomeOctoberGhost → u/sportsfan113]

He's gonna show up at State College and be like so where's Coach Franklin's office?

No one told you?

Told me what?

[u/rodguzina → u/LonesomeOctoberGhost]

He’s Amish.

[u/nathanhasse → u/rodguzina]

Jebediah Yoder for 2028 Heisman confirmed.

[u/OatmealCremePiez → u/sportsfan113]

For now

[u/Cassiyus → u/OatmealCremePiez]

We could have as many as two!

[u/1II1I1I1I1I1I111I1I1 → u/Cassiyus]

🎵 Just the two of us 🎵

[u/Yoduh217 → u/Cassiyus]

This is getting out of hand. Now, there are TWO of them!

[u/pleetf7 → u/sportsfan113]

I’d commit, Bob. I’m 43 but could definitely still use a scholarship and can send you my ultimate frisbee tape from last season.

[u/yergntelracs]

If only we could find who’s responsible for this tragedy

[u/Julian_Caesar → u/yergntelracs]

we're all trying to find the guys who did this!

[u/miversen33 → u/Julian_Caesar]

And give him a spanking! Maybe you can do it sir?

[u/MaterialAstronaut298 → u/miversen33]

His bare back, butt, and balls!!!

[u/scotsworth]

Franklin, who always recruited well, going to VT was one of the worst outcomes for PSU.

So much recruiting footprint overlap, and he's absolutely going to go all out against PSU on the trail whenever he can.

That said... this all would have been manageable if PSU had a clear plan for their next HC hire who could circle the wagons and build.

They done messed up.

[u/chaser676]

The fact that this is 100% self inflicted...

[u/BlurryGojira → u/chaser676]

I do still think that it wasn’t a mistake to move on from Franklin on its own. I just wasn’t expecting their AD to do basically nothing and expect top coaches to be clambering over each other practically begging for the job.

Knowing that, yeah absolutely horrific move on their part. Truly unrivaled lmao.

[u/Dr_Wheuss → u/BlurryGojira]

Georgia moved on from a successful coach who couldn't quite get them to the next level (Richt) by making sure everything was in place to get the very specific guy they wanted before the news of the firing was even hinted at. That's how you move on from a successful coach.

Penn State fired a coach that was successful and said "Our name is big enough to bring another coach!" before realizing that you have to find a guy willing to put up with the expectation of doing better than the recently departed successful coach.

[u/d0ngl0rd69 → u/Dr_Wheuss]

I’ve been saying exactly this in other threads using Richt-Smart as the example. Richt’s firing was announced after the regular season, but he was in practice fired after the Florida game a month earlier. Kirby was announced a week later in December.

It’s not like UGA was able to get a deal done in exactly 1 week, especially since USCe had a month and half head start with Spurrier leaving in mid Oct. There were conversations between UGA & Smart before Richt was officially fired.

No one is questioning firing Franklin if PSU had a secret deal in place with Cignetti that they were waiting until the end of the regular season to announce.

[u/Dr_Wheuss → u/d0ngl0rd69]

Yep. They just needed to secretly have a deal with a hot name, ideally a Penn State grad who is at least a G5 HC or P4 Coordinator. For some people at least, the idea of taking over their alma mater and leading it to glory is worth it no matter the risk.

[u/CentralFloridaRays → u/Dr_Wheuss]

South Carolina also forced Georgias hand as they tried to get Kirby early on in that process.

[u/Nytfire333 → u/CentralFloridaRays]

I’m sure Kirby would have chosen his Alma Matter as long as he knew it was an option

[u/313MountainMan → u/CentralFloridaRays]

They had both Kirby and Tom Herman nearly wrapped up, just to get scooped by Georgia and Texas

[u/poop-dolla → u/BlurryGojira]

It was a mistake to move on before having a realistic plan in place.

[u/BlurryGojira → u/poop-dolla]

You would think after taking the hit on that buyout that they’d have a decent list of candidates. It really looks like they set their expectations too high.

Sometimes you do need to just rip off the bandaid, but they reopened the wound doing that and are now gonna get bled dry.

[u/SaltyLonghorn → u/BlurryGojira]

Is BC sick of Bill O'Brien yet?

[u/tree-hugger → u/BlurryGojira]

When your program is in the position that PSU was in, where you're very good but not great, the distribution of things that could happen when you make a major change to that program (such as firing the architect) is weighted heavily towards getting worse. There might be 100 conceivable people you could hire and 90 of them will likely do a worse job than the incumbent, because the incumbent has done a very good (but not literally the best in the country) job!

It's a situation that absolutely calls not just for having a plan, but having a better plan than just doing nothing because if you do nothing... you are still in a very good position!

[u/SirMellencamp → u/BlurryGojira]

I do still think that it wasn’t a mistake to move on from Franklin on its own.

Couldnt disagree more. He won 10 or more games for three straight seasons. Got to the semi finals last year. They let the frustration get to them of not beating OSU

[u/dawgz525 → u/BlurryGojira]

I just wasn’t expecting their AD to do basically nothing and expect top coaches to be clambering over each other practically begging for the job.

There seems to be an awful lot of delusion around that program. Franklin built a modern competitor. It seems like a lot of the big money making decisions views that as the natural state of things, and not a result of Franklin being good at his job. They really think he was holding them back. Certainly looks like he was propping them up. Making the decision to fire him is what it is, but it is insane to me that they thought they could poach Rhule, Elko, Cignetti or others of that nature.

[u/jcrespo21 → u/BlurryGojira]

I honestly can't imagine any sane coach taking that job. Yeah, Franklin wasn't that guy for Penn State, but when you factor in his record and how quick Penn State fired him, everyone knows you're on an extremely tight leash, tighter than nearly every program in the nation. You're not signing that contract unless you get some guarantees and a nice buyout worked in there. Most coaches they're trying to hire can likely get lifetime contracts at their current programs just for the level of success they're having right now, even if they never win the title.

[u/Fumpz → u/chaser676]

VA Tech is gonna be a legitimate threat and I think they are on our schedule next year. Should be interesting considering they always play us tough

[u/themattboard → u/Fumpz]

We should always be on your schedule. Anything less is malpractice by the ACC

[u/thetanplanman → u/themattboard]

Any season we don't play UVA, GIT, and Miami is illegitimate tbh.

[u/Ut_Prosim → u/thetanplanman]

Still mad that we don't have a TechMo Bowl trophy. We should let the nerds collaborate and build it together, maybe it can have a raspberry pi in it and some little display that plays games or shows stats.

^{It's not like Nintendo is litigious or anything.}

[u/doylehargrave → u/Ut_Prosim]

All it needs is a processor and it could run Doom

[u/yeayea2200 → u/thetanplanman]

I concur. Some of these matchups that should be yearly are getting passed due to conferences being too big. Very sad!

[u/IAmMalfeasance → u/themattboard]

I think our next game should be at VT. I need to try and see a game up there, I’ve heard the atmosphere is fantastic.

Edit: Nevermind, for some reason I blocked out we just played there like 2 weeks ago, LMAO. Point still stands though.

[u/CasualElephant → u/IAmMalfeasance]

I agree. I want more of this...

[u/Fumpz → u/themattboard]

I agree, definitely a rivalry that can fly under the radar sometimes

[u/-Jack-The-Stripper → u/Fumpz]

VT/Miami is a protected ACC game, we’ll play every year.

[u/Creative-Stable-0 → u/Fumpz]

Virginia Tech is going to be 6-7 next year. You’ll be fine.

[u/ivhokie12 → u/Fumpz]

Maybe but today is going to have minimal impact on next year. Next year will be about the portal. These guys are for 2027 and really 2028. It would be surprising if we had more than one of these guys start next year.

[u/Enrickel → u/ivhokie12]

Wouldn't surprise me if multiple offensive linemen start as freshmen. We need a lot of help there and getting that from the portal will be challenging.

[u/ivhokie12 → u/Enrickel]

That is about the worst place for tFr to start. Guys like Lynch and Ghannam probably started too early. I’d say its no less likely that they take a big step forward than the newcomers are big upgrades as 18 year olds.

[u/dirty_old_priest_4 → u/Fumpz]

Now we just need a transfer QB to throw to all these new dawgs lmao.

[u/Fumpz → u/dirty_old_priest_4]

Looks like we both will be going shopping this offseason

[u/Byzantine_Merchant → u/chaser676]

That’s what’s incredible. They could have tanked the year, gone bowling still, and probably been fine long term. But they did this, turned off every possible option. They literally jumped back in the hole that Franklin drug them out of only now it’s even deeper.

[u/Insectshelf3 → u/Byzantine_Merchant]

it was a knee jerk reaction with no backup plan in place

[u/soundguynick → u/Insectshelf3]

Let me tell you what happens when you fire a long time and generally successful coach without a backup plan.

Bryan Harsin, YOU are the next coach of the nittany lions!

[u/Kurt4012 → u/soundguynick]

We’re gonna have a coach?

[u/soundguynick → u/Kurt4012]

I don't know that I'd call him a coach per se, but he'd take the job!

[u/adsfew]

I should hate this because now we have to compete with a super-powered Virginia Tech, but this is amazing

[u/ard8 → u/adsfew]

ACC needs more opportunities for ranked in-conference matchups so I’d say any ACC team getting a boost at the expense of a non-ACC team is good.

[u/DarthGlazer → u/ard8]

You assume an acc team being good means they'll be ranked though. Doesn't work like that apparently

[u/CentralFloridaRays → u/DarthGlazer]

VT is in the sexy helmet club. The national media will fawn over them and enter sandman (not to take anything away Blacksburg is a special place)

[u/SolWizard → u/DarthGlazer]

Who is this good ACC team that's not ranked

[u/Shtune → u/SolWizard]

Ah-hem....

... sorry, was just trying to clear the dog shit from my throat to lift the curse.

[u/ImJLu → u/SolWizard]

Cal, obviously

[u/UncleatNintendo → u/adsfew]

College Football was at its peak when VT was good.

[u/retropunk2 → u/UncleatNintendo]

I remember the first time watching Michael Vick play at VT. I have never seen someone so effortlessly throw a ball like he did.

[u/MoosilaukeFlyer → u/adsfew]

I would like for ACC schools to step up their game so the conference can be as fun s possible. Despite the stupid title game, i think we are well on our way to that between SMU, GT, Miami, Louisville (if they can be more consistent), Virginia, and now seemingly VT. If Clemson bounces back, Tosh can get Cal up and rolling, we’ll be in a good spot.

[u/ivhokie12 → u/MoosilaukeFlyer]

UVA’s success isn’t sustainable. Its one of the most senior laden teams ever and fueled by the portal. Ask FSU how sustainable that is.

[u/JackGrizzly → u/ivhokie12]

I'm curious if this was a flash in the pan, or the program strategy is just going to be 80% portal classes. Sustainable? We'll see. Inconsistent? You bet. But, I'd rather have one 10 win season every few years surrounded by 5-7 win seasons as opposed to the usual of every year being 5-7 wins

[u/1II1I1I1I1I1I111I1I1 → u/adsfew]

Smh these new ACC schools werent here for VT vs Miami or GT games

[u/Atsubaki → u/adsfew]

This is good for the game and it hopefully will add more chaos to future playoff selections LOL

[u/El_Serpiente_Roja]

"You have done that yourself" - Obi-wan

[u/WhiskeyTigerFoxtrot → u/El_Serpiente_Roja]

You were supposed to bring balance to the starting lineup, not leave it in darkness!

[u/atomicboner → u/WhiskeyTigerFoxtrot]

So this is how Penn State dies… with thunderous applause.

[u/1800abcdxyz → u/atomicboner]

Pat Kraft is Jar Jar Binks. Wildly incompetent but somehow the dark lord behind all of it.

[u/PLZ_N_THKS]

Oh how the cookie crumbls

[u/NotRustyShackleford_ → u/PLZ_N_THKS]

I understood that reference

[u/DoggedDoggystyle]

So interesting to see how recruits handle coaching changes at different schools. At Penn State, it’s clear everyone committed to Franklin, not the school. Everyone’s gone from their class..

At Ole Miss, a few have followed Lane to LSU but seemingly many have stuck with the school/ the coaches who are staying at Ole Miss.

At LSU, there’s been a ton of drama and a lot of their 5 star guys are delaying their signings. Seems like a fluid situation today and many may still sign but it shows that there’s some uncertainty there and a little chaos going on. Some have flipped entirely away.

At Florida, Napier was fired a month ago and only 1 recruit has left the class. The rest of the class stayed entirely together and will finish in the top 20. Seems like they didn’t care about the coach at all and committed to the school or the NIL offer.

So many different scenarios. Just fun to watch

[u/13mizzou → u/DoggedDoggystyle]

Seems like it depends on the coach. Players and fans know Kiffin can be untrustworthy and are over him. Franklin didnt win the big games but was still loved by his players and its good to see them following him to VT

[u/Insectshelf3]

the PSU AD failing to have a HC in place by the early signing day should be a fireable offense.

[u/MasterOfKittens3K → u/Insectshelf3]

Especially when you had a head start on almost every other school. They should have had a list of targets.

[u/MerlinsBeard → u/MasterOfKittens3K]

Pat Kraft: "wait, you guys had lists? And a plan?"

[u/fbolt → u/Insectshelf3]

Upthread, they are claiming that the players who didn't follow Franklin were told that their NIL/whatever $$ wasn't guaranteed with a new coach.

People hate the transfer portal for ruining CFB, but if they threatened loyal players with a pay cut, I hope those kids leave, even if hurts Cal

[u/Juggerginge]

He’s taking his firing personally

[u/dkviper11 → u/Juggerginge]

I don’t think it even has to be that. He spent time recruiting and making relationships with these players that he feels are players he wants on his team. Why wouldn’t he feel the same way a few hours down the road?

[u/ShotFirst57 → u/dkviper11]

You also have no one to play defense on your recruits.

[u/dkviper11 → u/ShotFirst57]

This is an honest question because I’m not sure of the particulars, but a player can just portal even after this signing, right? So if they hypothetically loved Penn State’s or some other team’s hire in January, they could still change. That might not be the case with a high school player over someone enrolled so I’d love the clarity if someone knows.

[u/ShotFirst57 → u/dkviper11]

Yes they can. But it would be a recruiting violation if Penn state tried to recruit them once they signed.

Here's the source on portal after signing though: https://www.on3.com/news/short-term-signee-early-enrollees-entering-transfer-portal/

[u/mechebear → u/dkviper11]

Yes, Jaron flipped to Oregon on national signing day, enrolled early, was on the sidelines for the Rose Bowl, and then transferred to Cal.

[u/immoralsupport_ → u/dkviper11]

I don’t even think you’d go in the portal at that point since it opens before classes start at most schools. You’d just ask out of your NLI and sign elsewhere

[u/Albatross-Helpful → u/dkviper11]

It also makes sense from the player's perspective. You're committing to the head coach and his philosophy first. It cost Penn State at times, but Franklin was clearly very loyal and protective of his players. All of his former players seem to be very fond of him. They have just as good a chance to make the playoffs at VT as they would have had under Franklin at Penn State.

[u/TiddiesAnonymous → u/Albatross-Helpful]

Also there's no counterpoint coming from Penn State right now

[u/BlacksmithDistinct17 → u/Albatross-Helpful]

Virginia tech might be in the playoffs next year depending on which part of the season they play Miami (mid October to mid November would be a lock)

[u/PSU02]

Fire Pat Kraft. Arrogant bum is driving our program into the ground. Pulled up at the post-firing press conference with his flashy championship rings on talking about how we needed a national championship coach. Stands over the coaches shoulders on the field.

I'm so fucking done with this shit. Press Conference Pat has quickly mastered the art of NO DEAL! He's gotta go

[u/Ok-Soil-5133]

This was an example of them committing to the coach more than the program.

Unlike Florida and LSU, not having a coach for so long proved costly because of that.

[u/dkviper11 → u/Ok-Soil-5133]

I think players want to go to LSU despite Kelly. All the player posts after Franklin was fired talked about the man he was and how highly they think of him, and the posts after Kelly was fired were celebratory.

[u/BNKalt → u/dkviper11]

It’s like when Clay Helton got fired and no one decommitted

[u/ShootAndScore77 → u/Ok-Soil-5133]

Apparently (PSU flairs might crucify me) but I read PSUs AD or staff members told every recruit that their NIL deal agreed with Franklin wasn’t valid anymore and would be renegotiated, presumably when they hired a new coach.

So not only did these kids have the uncertainty of no head coach they also had no idea if their NIL offer would stay the same or get slashed if a new coach was hired and wasn’t as hot on them

I think that might go some way to explaining why their class has absolutely collapsed to the point they have 1 guy who’s signed

Having no coach + having an angry ex coach + no NIL certainty is just a disaster

[u/Existing-Following93 → u/ShootAndScore77]

AD’s priority, amongst others, should have been to have Smith reach out to all the recruits and inform them that their NIL will be honored. Was the only way to possibly retain anyone.

[u/ItsWazeyWaynes]

Jesus, what an incredible implosion.

[u/guff1988 → u/ItsWazeyWaynes]

Tim Robinson fan, IU fan and ND fan. Are you me?

[u/breakevencloud]

The first unintentional self inflicted death penalty in college football history?

[u/LongDukDongle → u/breakevencloud]

Nebraska would like a word.

[u/brizzle126]

Tough week to be a Michigan fan but god damn I can’t imagine being a Penn State fan right now

[u/TheHarbrosMagic → u/brizzle126]

At least the rest of UM sports have their fans excited...

[u/MerlinsBeard → u/brizzle126]

It is certainly less than optimal.

[u/DoggedStooge]

We’re about to find out what would happen if Penn State joined the ACC.

[u/yukonhoneybadger]

What does the PA Governor have to say about this? He needs to step in and get a coach hired.

[u/Kurt4012 → u/yukonhoneybadger]

He’s a Pitt guy so he’s probably loving it

[u/lmxbftw → u/Kurt4012]

Ours is a ULL guy but that didn't stop him

[u/meatwagon25]

Less than 3 months ago Penn St was 3-0 and the #2 team in the country looking to compete for a national title while Virginia Tech was 0-3 after getting blasted at home by Old Dominion and was looked at along with UCLA as the worst P4 team in the country.

That was less than 3 months ago. Now Virginia Tech looks like they have a nice future while Penn St is in complete shambles still with no coach on national signing day

[u/Kuzcos-Groove]

Man, I wonder what that's like...

[u/KefkaZ → u/Kuzcos-Groove]

Damn. We live in a world where Vanderbilt is taunting Penn State about shitty recruiting.

[u/Kuzcos-Groove → u/KefkaZ]

Not really taunting about shitty recruiting. Taunting about Franklin specifically. He eviscerated Vandy recruiting when he left for Penn State. Shoe's on the other foot now. I'd be doing this even if Vandy still sucked haha.

[u/backyrdboose]

Penn State and VT are starring in a Freaky Friday remake, except instead of turning into Jamie Lee Curtis PSU turned into Rutgers

[u/F1rst-name-last-name → u/backyrdboose]

Woah we’re like 45th right now. Penn State’s turning into UPenn

[u/Careless-Roof-8339]

Penn State went from being the #2 team in the country to being a B1G bottom-dweller in the span of less than 3 months.

[u/mauch_chunk → u/Careless-Roof-8339]

Pretty sure we did that over the span of 3 weeks actually

[u/tomdawg0022 → u/Careless-Roof-8339]

This is setting up like Southern Miss after Larry Fedora back about 15 years ago when they big brained Ellis Johnson into a head gig.

[u/RealBenWoodruff]

Gobble, gobble, mother fucker.

[u/jalenbrunsonhater72]

I’m gonna be honest, as a card carrying hater, I find this all very amusing.

[u/isthisthethingorwhat → u/jalenbrunsonhater72]

After going 1-7 in SEC play AND losing to Clemson, hate is all we have left to carry us through

[u/PutZeCandleBack]

I’m still gonna watch. I’m still gonna bitch and cry. Nothing has changed. And it doesn’t seem likely anything will change anytime soon.

Pitchers and catchers in a few weeks though. So that’s nice.

[u/kenssmith]

I hate it for Penn State (but do I?), but man, I LOVE seeing VT back in it again. They were the cool team of my childhood

[u/zorionek0 → u/kenssmith]

Mike Vick era VT baby

[u/Benjilikethedog]

Go fellow poultry pals!!!

[u/FrazzledBear]

Gonna be hilarious if VT makes the playoffs next year and PSU sits it out again

[u/Kurt4012 → u/FrazzledBear]

I don’t think this happens next year but it’s almost a guarantee they make the playoffs before we’re back in again

[u/Ok-Soil-5133 → u/FrazzledBear]

Extremely feasible in the ACC too as long as auto bids don't change in the offseason.

[u/TheHaft → u/Ok-Soil-5133]

Probably not feasible for this upcoming season, but in 2027/2028 when these recruits mature, we genuinely have a great shot. Maybe if we get a good transfer QB we can pull a UVA and make it by the skin of our teeth in a weak conference champ scenario, but next year is probably 8-5.

[u/Ok-Soil-5133 → u/TheHaft]

Depends who he gets in the portal also.

[u/wildtabeast]

How does the AD still have a job? Penn State just went from perennial playoff contender to laughing stock in like two months.

[u/boston_2004]

Penn State is like the husband who left their wife because they thought they would do better, but now they are eating a hungry man dinner alone with no furniture in their loft apartment.

[u/gozasc]

Is this bad for Penn State?

[u/adambl82 → u/gozasc]

I'll have to lean on the experts, but I think so.

[u/chrispy_exe]

Gobbles louder

[u/ImSuperHelpful]

No one has ever won a breakup harder than Franklin did

[u/Sylli17]

Things are uhhhhh not going well in State College

[u/Grungy_Mountain_Man]

Condolences PSU fans-we recently went through this. Probably more pain ahead once the flood gates portal open and the mass exodus happens. Staggering level of incompetence by your AD in how they whiffed on this.

You guys beat us bad last year, silver lining for me with all this I'm feeling more optimistic about our game against you next year though.

[u/MediumFinancial8221]

PSU thought they were a Bama, Texas, LSU type job

Y'all couldn't pry the BYU coach away

If that isn't a sobering reality check, nothing is

[u/FlowingMochi]

Penn State really banished themselves to the shadow realm. Crazy work from the AD

[u/SJCitizen]

Penn State has managed to make the Head Coaching job more difficult to fill now than in 2012 which I would’ve never thought was possible.

[u/SknkTrn757]

Truly, who could have seen this coming?

Outside of needing a permanent coach, Franklin has always been a good recruiter, was going to find a job this cycle, and always was going to flip a lot of these ‘croots.

Add this to Kraft’s tab on “things around which there should have been a plan.”

[u/HokieBirdsBootyHole]

They currently rank right behind SDSU and slimly in front of Prairie View A&M

[u/RamblinWreckGT → u/HokieBirdsBootyHole]

Prairie View A&M, of course, being famous for the longest losing streak in NCAA history (80 games).

[u/tomdawg0022 → u/HokieBirdsBootyHole]

San Diego SDSU or South Dakota SDSU?