Penn State coaching search: CBS Sports resets hot board to replace James Franklin after Matt Rhule extension

Matt Rhule is no longer a target for the Penn State head coaching job after signing a two-year contract extension earlier this week. Now, that the Nebraska head coach is out of the picture — which coaches have the best chance to replace James Franklin?

The Penn State job will be one of the most coveted jobs in the country this offseason. While several big-time SEC jobs have opened in recent weeks, the Nittany Lions have the resources to win now — and it’s clear they’re willing to support the next leader of the program.

With the coaching search now rounding out its third week, CBS Sports listed eight names to keep an eye on heading into the final stretch of the season. Some of the names may surprise you. Here’s how the list shakes up:

Mike Elko, Texas A&M

Mike Elko has only been a head coach since 2022, but has a 32-14 record over that span. Success has followed him the whole way from Duke to Texas A&M.

The longtime defensive coordinator now has his Texas A&M Aggies 8-0 as the only undefeated team left in the SEC through nine weeks of football. If he made the jump to Happy Valley, similar success is expected to follow.

Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills OC

Joe Brady has been in the NFL ever since winning a national championship with LSU as the passing game coordinator. He’s steadily risen up the ranks in the Buffalo Bills organization, being brought on as QB coach before being named offensive coordinator in 2024.

The obvious next step for the 36-year-old offensive guru would be to become a head coach. Whether that’s in the NFL, or college remains to be seen. Though, his ties to LSU may see him lean more toward the LSU opening but that remains to be seen.

Jeff Brohm, Louisville

Penn State fans will be happy to know that Jeff Brohm has a knack for beating ranked opponents. When he was at Purdue, he had wins over highly ranked Ohio State, Iowa and Michigan State teams. That has continued at Louisville having upset the likes of Notre Dame and Clemson, and now Miami this season.

Still, Brohm has won at least nine games during his first two seasons as Louisville’s head coach. His Cardinals are currently off to. 6-1 start.

Matt Campbell, Iowa State

Matt Campbell has been the head coach at Iowa State since 2016. He was one win away from leading the Cyclones to the College Football Playoff after losing to Arizona State in last season’s Big 12 Championship game.

The Cyclones are currently 5-3 and aren’t having the type of season that was expected out of them at this point in the season. Still, Campbell has brought a winning culture to Iowa State and has led his team to a bowl game in all but two of his seasons.

Manny Diaz, Duke

Manny Diaz is a familiar face in Happy Valley. The Duke head coach previously spent time as the Nittany Lions’ defensive coordinator from 2022-23 before taking the Blue Devils job during the 2024 offseason.

Before coaching at Penn State, Diaz was the head coach at Miami. He has a 34–22 overall record as a head coach, and a 13-7 record with Duke.

Lance Leipold, Kansas

Lance Leipold won six Division III national championships between 2007 and 2014 during his tenure at Wisconsin Whitewater. He currently has a 172–71 record after finishing his DIII coaching career 109–6.

He was able to lead Kansas to a nine-win season in 2023 but has only won nine games total in the season and a half since. They’re currently 4-4 heading into Week 10.

Clark Lea, Vanderbilt

Penn State hiring Clark Lea would mean it has poached its last two head coaches from Vanderbilt. Still, James Franklin never led the Commodores to the heights Vanderbilt is enjoying under Lea.

Vanderbilt is currently 7-1 and ranked No. 9 in the country with its lone loss coming to Alabama on the road. They’ve defeated top 25 teams in each of the last two weeks and have another opportunity against Texas this weekend.

Dan Mullen, UNLV

Dan Mullen returned to the coaching scene in 2025 for the first time since being fired as Florida’s head coach in 2021. Mullen has the experience with over a decade of head coaching experience in the SEC.

He has UNLV off to a 6-1 start under his guidance, and it’s not farfetched to believe the Rebels can finish the season with an 11-1 record. Could it be only a matter of time before he returns to a power conference job?