Overview
- Virginia Tech announced Franklin’s hire Monday and scheduled his formal introduction for Wednesday morning, becoming the first Power Four program to fill a vacancy this cycle.
- Franklin, 53, was fired by Penn State on Oct. 12 after a 3-3 start and owns a 128-60 career record with a 2016 Big Ten title and a 2024 College Football Playoff semifinal appearance.
- Terms of his contract were not released, and Penn State’s initial buyout obligation of about $49 million is expected to decrease based on the new deal’s offset.
- Virginia Tech’s Board of Visitors recently approved a plan to add $229 million to athletics over the next four years, signaling increased resources for football.
- Franklin succeeds Brent Pry and brings deep recruiting ties in the DMV/I‑95 corridor to a program seeking a return to ACC contention after years outside the Top 25.