At this point, we're all going to be left wondering who's still available for Penn State football to go after in terms of its coaching search. Matt Rhule and Curt Cignetti have signed new contract extensions, but now another dream target is about to do the same.
Penn State writer thinks Nittany Lions will turn CFB world upside down with new hire
On Saturday morning, news broke that Mike Elko and Texas A&M are finalizing a massive new extension that will make him one of the Top 10 highest-paid coaches in the country. With that, any speculation about him potentially making a move to Happy Valley is over. Yup, Elko isn't going anywhere:
More details on the new contract that A&M is expected to announce today with Elko: It's a six-year deal for upwards of $11 million annually. https://t.co/eavE8lu5qd
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 15, 2025
Texas A&M and Mike Elko are finalizing a monster new contract extension
Texas A&M getting this done with Elko should not be a surprise at all. The Aggies are ranked No. 3 in the country and people would probably lose it on the administration if they let Elko leave for the Big Ten and Penn State. That's nothing for them to worry about now.
However, while it was always a pipe dream that Penn State was going to be able to push to steal Elko, the fact of the matter here is that the dream is dead. There are still some big names Penn State can go after, including potentially Marcus Freeman. However, Elko is now the latest target the Nittany Lions fans had high on their board who won't be taking the job. Brian Hartline next?
James Franklin is in discussions with Virginia Tech over a new deal
As for James Franklin, it looks like the former Penn State coach could be saying hello to the ACC in the near future if all goes to plan. Pete Thamel dropped a blockbuster report on Saturday morning, stating that he and Virginia Tech are in the early stages of discussions for a new deal.
Rumors have been flying that there's plenty of mutual interest there, and Thamel's report confirmed that. Franklin was fired by Penn State after a three-game losing streak earlier this year, but the expectation was that it wouldn't take long for him to find a new job. Could he end up taking over at Virginia Tech? Don't be surprised if that ends up going down.