Next Penn State Football Coach Odds – Top Candidates to Replace James Franklin

• After 12 seasons at Penn State, James Franklin is out
• Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule is the favorite to replace him
• Read below for the top candidates to be Penn State’s next head coach

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James Franklin had a strong 12-season run in Happy Valley, winning 69.8% of his games and one Big Ten title. He led them to three New Year’s Six bowl wins before taking the Nittany Lions to the College Football Playoff in 2024-2025. Just 10 months ago, Penn State was a game away from competing for the National Championship.

However, the Nittany Lions soon lost to Notre Dame, ending their season. In 2025, Penn State opened with titanic expectations. After a 3-0 start, the facade crumbled as Penn State lost to Oregon, a winless UCLA team, and Northwestern at home. After the third loss in a row, Penn State dismissed Franklin.

Here are the 13 prospective head coaches with at least a 5% chance to replace Franklin, according to Kalshi.

Next Penn State Football Coach Odds

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Penn State’s Hiring History

Since Joe Paterno’s dismissal in 2011, Penn State has had two head coaches. Bill O’Brien coached the Nittany Lions from 2012 to 2013 before joining the NFL. Before becoming Penn State’s head coach, O’Brien was the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots. In 2014, Penn State hired Franklin. Franklin has been the head coach at Vanderbilt for the previous three seasons.

If history is anything to go on, Penn State would likely be interested in hiring an NFL coordinator or a college head coach from a lower-prestige program.

Best Penn State Next Coach Bets

Joe Brady (+525)

Joe Brady is third in odds for good reason. Not only is he a highly sought-after candidate, but he was also a grad assistant at Penn State from 2015 to 2016. Brady has high-level experience with the 2017-2018 Saints, National Champion 2019 LSU, and the current iteration of the Bills.

Joe Brady is an intriguing candidate for the PSU Job

1. Brady was the Passing Game Cordinator for the 2019 LSU Tigers who had an all time great offense

2. PSU could finally have a great passing attack under an offensive mastermind

3. Elite at the NFL and College levels as an… pic.twitter.com/n0kUqYgaF8

— PSU Recruiting (@PSUNationRec) October 21, 2025

Brady is the best value of the serious candidates, and he has legitimate ties to Penn State. The NFL could throw a wrinkle in as he has been an oft-mentioned head coach candidate, but Penn State could beat the NFL to the punch if Brady wishes to return to college.

Brady is a similar candidate to Bill O’Brien back in 2012. He is offensively-oriented, and he has both NFL and NCAA experience to his name.

Alex Golesh (+1567)

Alex Golesh does not have any ties to Penn State, but he is one of the hottest names in the non-Power 4 coaching world. Golesh is in his third year with South Florida, and USF has massively improved over a pair of 7-6 seasons. This season, the Bulls could be on their way to a CFP spot. As of writing, they are 6-1 and ranked No.18 in the AP Poll.

Like Brady, Golesh would bring an offensive focus to State College. USF has the No. 7 scoring offense in college football right now, boasting a highly efficient passing and rushing attack. Golesh is also one of the younger options as he is only 41.

Penn State Next Coach Bets to Fade

Jeff Brohm (+426)

Unlike the other two candidates in the top three, Jeff Brohm has no ties to Penn State. Matt Rhule was a player and volunteer assistant for the Nittany Lions. Brohm, instead, is Louisville born-and-raised. He was born in Louisville, went to high school in Louisville, played at Louisville, and has served a slew of roles at Louisville in his coaching career.

Brohm has led Louisville back to relevance – they are No.19 in the AP Poll – but it is a good spot for Brohm for the future. Brohm could move up the prestige ladder, continuing his ascent from Western Kentucky to Purdue to Louisville to Penn State, but Brohm is Louisville through and through.

Brent Key (+1567)

Sticking with the Jeff Brohm theme, Brent Key is also an alum of the school he coaches at. Key has Georgia Tech experiencing one of its best seasons in generations. Georgia Tech is off to its best start since 1966. The Yellow Jackets’ No.7 ranking is the highest they have been in the AP Poll since 2009. They have not been higher than No.7 since their co-champion season in 1990.

Georgia Tech is 7-0 for the first time since 1966🐝 pic.twitter.com/r65VRCI6DU

— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 18, 2025

Key played four seasons for Georgia Tech before becoming a grad assistant. Before ascending to the head coach role, he was the offensive line coach and assistant head coach. Like Brohm, I have my doubts that an ACC head coach would leave his alma mater to pursue the Penn State job.