Overview
- Nebraska’s Matt Rhule signed an extension through 2032 and Indiana’s Curt Cignetti agreed to an eight-year deal worth over $93 million, moves that effectively remove both from Penn State’s candidate pool, according to official announcements and CBS reporting.
- CBS lists Texas A&M’s Mike Elko, Louisville’s Jeff Brohm, Iowa State’s Matt Campbell, Duke’s Manny Diaz, Kansas’ Lance Leipold, Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea and Bills OC Joe Brady, along with UNLV’s Dan Mullen, as realistic options under consideration.
- Public betting and prediction markets are pricing Ohio State OC Brian Hartline and Jeff Brohm among early favorites for the job, though those odds reflect speculation rather than school decisions.
- CBS analysis notes Penn State’s midseason firing of James Franklin now looks riskier after top targets stayed put, with additional fallout including at least 10 decommitments from the 2026 recruiting class.
- This search unfolds during a record surge in in-season changes, with 12 FBS head coaches fired and 10 dismissed before November, as CBS hot-seat updates highlight further instability across the sport and competition from other open Power Four jobs such as LSU and Florida.