It’s been one of the busiest coaching carousels in recent memory, and as the calendar turns to December, Penn State is the top program with an opening remaining. The Nittany Lions fired James Franklin back on Oct. 12 with an eye on getting ahead of the carousel, but they’ll be making a hire later than programs like LSU, Florida, Auburn, Arkansas and Virginia Tech, where Franklin ultimately landed.The Nittany Lions, who have finished the regular season under interim head coach Terry Smith with a 6-6 record, have been linked to some big names in the past couple months, and now a hire is expected to come shortly. 

Which names remain on the Penn State coaching hot board to replace Franklin? If you love the Nittany Lions, or just want to know who will be calling the shots for Penn State in the future, be sure to see what the proven team of experts are saying at Lions247.

Lions247 with Fight on State brings fans trusted coverage from a dedicated team of insiders. With 20+ years and a staff that includes Mark Brennan, Tyler Donohue, Tyler Calvaruso and Daniel Gallen, the site delivers daily updates, recruiting scoop, and team news. Lions247 with Fight on State is the market leader in coverage of Penn State athletics! Join the conversation and experience the power of the Lions247 with the Fight on State community. Want even more? Sign up for a VIP membership now and unlock all the insider content and features today.

And right now, Lions247 is offering 75% off annual subscriptions*, so now is the time to sign up. The team at Lions247 already has a list out of several potential candidates and there are some surprising names on the list. Head to Lions247 now to see them all.

Top Penn State football coach candidates

One name the staff has identified as a potential target on the Penn State football coaching hot board is Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key. Key opened the season at Georgia Tech with eight straight wins, but did drop three of his past four to knock the Yellow Jackets out of the ACC title hunt and out of College Football Playoff consideration.

Still, it was a largely successful season as the Yellow Jackets can get to 10 wins for the first time since 2014 if they win their bowl game. 

“Key is a beloved figure for the program, and you’ll find few coaches across the country with deeper roots on their current campus,” Donohue said. “With all that said, he ranks outside of the Top 50 nationally in 2025 salaries, so Georgia Tech likely must make a major jump in investment if it aims to beat out some circling sharks during this coaching carousel.” See more candidates at Lions247.

How to get insider Penn State coaching search updates 

The rest of the list includes several other exciting possibilities, including multiple coaches who currently have their team in the College Football Playoff mix. You can only see who it is by joining Lions247.

Who are the top names in the Penn State football coaching search, and which playoff-caliber coaches could the Nittany Lions take a big swing on? Go to Lions247 to see their Penn State coaching hot board and more, all from a team of reporters with extensive experience covering the Nittany Lions, and find out. 

And remember, Lions247 is offering 75% off an annual VIP membership, so subscribe now before it’s too late.

*Terms: This offer is only available for new members who sign up for an annual subscription to Lions247. After the first year, subscription will re-bill on an annual basis at the regular rate. 247Sports.com reserves the right to alter or cancel this promotion at any time. Please write support@247sports.com with any questions you may have.