Penn State opened one of the most coveted head coaching positions in the country when it fired James Franklin following a third consecutive loss, and a few big names have already emerged as potential candidates to take over the Nittany Lions.

The storied program has robust resources, despite being on the hook for a nearly $50 million buyout to Franklin. Penn State figures to draw interest from a bevy of intriguing names, and here are five early top candidates:

5. MIKE ELKO, TEXAS A&M

The Aggies have about as many resources as any team in the nation, so on the surface it would appear a longshot that Elko would leave the program after just two seasons. But Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft just might make the call to test the waters. Elko is a New Jersey native who played at Penn, so

See Full Page