One coach that some Penn State fans have expressed interest in replacing James Franklin is Matt Rhule, the current head coach at the University of Nebraska. Rhule, who has a strong track record in college football, especially in rebuilding programs, has been viewed by some as a potential candidate to take over the Nittany Lions should Franklin’s tenure falter.
Matt Rhule made a name for himself at Temple University, where he transformed a struggling program into a competitive team in the American Athletic Conference. His success at Temple led to a high-profile job at Baylor University, where he inherited a program in turmoil and quickly turned it around. Under Rhule, Baylor experienced significant improvement, culminating in a Big 12 championship in 2021. This track record of rebuilding programs from the ground up has made him a popular name among fans who are critical of Franklin’s inability to bring a national championship to Penn State despite consistent success.
One of the key reasons Penn State fans may want Rhule over Franklin is his reputation for developing players and creating a disciplined, competitive team culture. While Franklin has had several successful seasons, including a Big Ten Championship and multiple 10-win seasons, some fans have criticized his teams for underperforming in high-pressure moments, particularly in big games against ranked opponents or in the College Football Playoff race. Rhule’s ability to lead programs through adversity and his history of improving teams quickly have led some fans to think that he could be the right coach to elevate Penn State to the next level.
While Franklin remains a solid coach with a strong record, the notion of Rhule taking over the Penn State program reflects the high expectations surrounding the Nittany Lions and their pursuit of championship-level success.
Leave a Reply