Joel Klatt predicts Penn State will be the best job to open during this coaching cycle

James Franklin is out at Penn State after a shocking three-game losing streak, and the Nittany Lions need a new head coach. Luckily, Joel Klatt believes they’ll have no problem attracting star candidates to Happy Valley.

During the latest episode of The Joel Klatt Show, the FOX Sports analyst weighed in on the coaching vacancy, predicting Penn State will be “the best job” available during this year’s hiring cycle — regardless of any other firings that may come. He believes the Nittany Lions have all the tools needed to be a dominant program again, and it’s up to university leadership to find the right hire to bring that to life.

“As far as the status of this job, I think this is going to be the best job that comes open in this cycle. And I understand there will be more. Obviously, we don’t know what’s going to happen at, let’s say, Florida with Billy Napier after another loss to Texas A&M,” Klatt explained. “We don’t know what’s going to happen at Florida State, as Mike Norvell takes what was an incredible start to the season — with the win over Alabama — and now that’s fading away after a home loss against Pitt as an 11-point favorite.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen with Wisconsin. Obviously, it was a devastating end to the game against Michigan. They roll out there and get shut out last weekend. We don’t know what’s going to happen at those types of places.”

While other major programs could also make moves, Klatt doesn’t think any of them will rival Penn State’s potential. From its financial backing to their facilities and tradition, he believes Happy Valley offers a combination that no other opening this cycle can match.

“And yet, I don’t care if those jobs open. To me, Penn State is the apple of the cycle. This is going to be the best job. The reason is that the support is there. The athletic director is fantastic. They’re putting nine figures plus into that stadium, which is already one of the best environments in college football.

“You have a history of success. You have a legacy. You have a tradition. You have all of these things at your disposal. It’s a place — and Ohio State is proving this out, Notre Dame just proved this playing for a national championship.”

“Michigan just proved this winning a national championship. You can win a national championship up there. This is a conference that’s playing the best football at the top. It might not be as deep as the SEC with all those teams in the middle, but at the top, it’s the premium conference in college football. The money is there from the revenue distribution. Everything is there to win a championship.

“So this is, right now, the best job available — and it probably will be regardless of what happens at those other locations. The challenge is, who do you hire? Because you’ve got to take a big swing. If you’re Pat Kraft, you’ve got to get the right guy in here. This is a pivotal moment for Penn State. Everybody knows that.”

Klatt’s message is clear — Penn State remains one of the premier destinations in college football, despite Franklin’s shortcomings. Elite facilities combined with passionate fan support and a history of winning — the Nittany Lions have everything in place to take over the sport. Now, it’s up to athletic director Pat Kraft to find the right leader to restore the program’s standard.