Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford addresses James Franklin, USC rumors

On3 imageby:Steve Samra09/16/21

SamraSource

James Franklin has been the hot name associated with the USC Trojans since the job became available earlier this week. Now, Penn State is trying to block out the noise as they prepare for Auburn.

This season, Franklin’s Nittany Lions sit at 2-0 in large part due to the play of quarterback Sean Clifford. Following an upset win in Madison against Wisconsin, Clifford was efficient in a victory over Ball State last weekend.

As Franklin and Clifford prepare for Auburn to come to town, the drama surrounding USC that’s now engulfing the Penn State head coach comes at a bad time. Still, Clifford is adamant that the Nittany Lions have tunnel vision.

“Coach Franklin talked to us yesterday, just addressed the topic. I don’t think that it’s anything that we need to worry about,” Clifford said on the Franklin-to-USC rumors. “It’s something that is kind of out of our hands. 

“We’re just gonna focus on Auburn, and then go from there. We aren’t really excited about what we got on the table this week. We’re not gonna let outside sources change our gameplan, or our thought process on the game.”

As Penn State prepares for one of their toughest tests of the season, Clifford has the correct mindset. Still, it’s hard for the rumors not to weigh heavy on the head of the team. If the Nittany Lions lose on Saturday, we may see them pick up even more steam.

Report of mutual interest between Franklin and USC

While Franklin and Clifford are focused on Auburn, a certain name is reportedly gaining steam in the hunt for the next USC head coach.

On Wednesday morning’s Dan Patrick Show, Patrick discussed the rumor that Penn State head coach James Franklin might consider the USC job.

“A source told me this morning that there is mutual interest [between] USC and a current college coach,” Patrick said before asking for guesses as to who it is. 

After comments included Franklin, Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck, Iowa State’s Matt Campbell and Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald, Patrick confirmed the source told him it was Franklin. 

On Tuesday, Franklin had his first press conference since the news began to develop Monday night, and he was asked about the opening.

“As you guys know, I can’t stand any form of distraction,” Franklin told reporters. “I’ll discuss this today with the leadership council, so we can make sure that all of our energy is on our preparation for Auburn. That’s how we’ll handle it. I’m going to talk to the leadership council today about it.”

“That’s a non-denial denial,” Patrick said after replaying the clip on his show. “What coach loves a good distraction? And the leadership council, what’s this have to do with the leadership council? I don’t know who is on the leadership council.”

Patrick added that while Franklin has done a good job in Happy Valley, he may be ready for a new frontier.

“A lot of these coaches look at it like ‘I’m done with this. Next challenge,” he said. “Maybe that’s the case [with Franklin]. I don’t know.”

On3’s Ashton Pollard contributed to this article.