Penn State fired James Franklin after parts of 12 seasons as head coach Sunday. Here are five candidates athletic director Pat Kraft likely will — and five candidates he should — consider as Franklin’s replacement.

Will

Curt Cignetti, Indiana head coach — His results at Indiana over the past couple of seasons would be undeniable regardless of his origins. He led the historically moribund Hoosiers to the College Football Playoff with an 11-1 mark in 2024, and they’re thus far undefeated in 2025 with a win this past weekend over the No. 3 ranked Oregon team that initiated James Franklin’s fall by beating him and the Nittany Lions in the White Out at Beaver Stadium a few weeks ago.

Throw in deep Pennsylvania roots, and he’s a shoe-in for an interview — if he wants one. The Pittsburgh nati

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