Penn State Football: James Franklin Continues Annual Tradition, Responds to USC Rumors

“I can’t stand any form of distraction. I’ll discuss this today with the [team] leadership council so that we can make sure that all of our energy is on our preparation for Auburn. That’s how we’ll handle it.”

That’s what James Franklin had to say Tuesday when asked about the possibility of taking over at USC following the dismissal of longtime head coach Clay Helton.

In what has become a near annual tradition, Franklin answered a generally unanswerable question the same way he always has – opting for something between an implied commitment to Penn State in addition to the silent admission of “never turn down a phone call” by not stating an impassioned declaration that he is never leaving State College.

Franklin’s recruiting and program-building pedigree coupled with a talent-rich Los Angeles area and a relatively easier route to the college football playoffs in a weaker PAC-12 has long made Penn State’s head coach a favorite in any and all USC coaching discourse. It had gotten to the point that Franklin has fielded questions about the opening in 2018 even as Helton still held the job.

Generally seen as a sleeping giant in the current college football landscape USC is an appealing fit for Franklin whose personality and charisma would likely thrive in California. According to The Athletic, Franklin is among the coaches USC is interested in targeting but it remains to be seen if Franklin would truly entertain a call.

It’s also unclear what USC is looking to pay for its replacement, or if the seemingly inevitable expansion of the college football playoff field would make Penn State’s path to the postseason far more palatable and in turn USC’s current path slightly less a position of strength.

Similarly Franklin courting an offer from the Trojans would be an interesting test of leverage for a head coach who would be eyeing up his third contract extension in nearly as many years while coming off a 4-5 season and a high-profile hiring of offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich in addition to breaking ground on Lasch Building renovations.

Franklin’s ongoing contract ends in 2025 with a current buyout of $4 million.