Marcus Freeman to Penn State rumors gain momentum as CFB insider reveals AD Pat Kraft's plans after James Franklin's firing

Longtime head coach James Franklin was fired on Sunday by Penn State after a close game with Northwestern in Week 7. It eventually led to a 22-21 loss for the Nittany Lions, triggering harsh criticisms from fans and experts all across the college football community. Already the veteran coach was under fire for his inability to win against proverbial programs and, above that, a poor 3-3 record just seven weeks into the season.

This marks the end of a storied 12-year journey of Franklin at Penn State. With AD Pat Kraft in the hunt for a new coaching candidate, Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman has emerged as a potential replacement for James Franklin, per Pete Nakos of On3.

When Franklin took over the reins at Penn State in 2014, the program was undergoing an array of sanctions. It was on the verge of a massive downfall but Franklin managed to oversee a major overhaul with significant changes in the coaching and playing rosters.

He recorded double-digit winning seasons throughout his stint at Pennsylvania and racked up a stellar 104-45 record. Penn State finished in the top 10 of the AP poll five times and scaled its brand value as a major program in the Big Ten.

On Tuesday morning, CFB Insider Pete Nakos shared that Penn State could be taking big swings to fill the spot.

“Penn State AD Pat Kraft plans to take a couple of big swings during the hiring process. One name that he may make a run at is Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman,” per On3 report on Oct 14, Tuesday.

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If this move comes to fruition, it will create a significant shift of powers in college football. Although it appears less likely that Freeman leaves Notre Dame mid-season, especially when he is on the run to see the Fighting Irish contend for the title once again in the championship game.

Marcus Freeman gets 100% real on Marcus Freeman’s firing

While speaking to the reporters on Monday, the Notre Dame coach mentioned that the dynamics of college football are very uncertain. Even though coaches take hefty checks home, their job security is extremely volatile and things could change any moment.

“I have a lot of respect for any coach, but what he’s done for college football has been tremendous. You never want to see somebody fired,” Freeman said to the reporters on Monday. “You feel awful for the people that come and join you that are going to be out of a job too. There are a lot of people affected, a lot of families affected,” he added.

Marcus Freeman’s contract buyout remains undisclosed since Notre Dame is a private university. However, AD Kraft would definitely explore his options since the present moment is one of desperation, where Penn State is without a head coach and half the season is still waiting ahead.

Edited by Deepesh Nair