James Franklin’s tenure as the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions concluded after more than a decade, ending on a less than stellar note. The 2025 season held high hopes for Penn State, but the results were underwhelming, leading to a record barely over .500 and Franklin’s departure from the team.

After stepping away briefly, Franklin found a new opportunity a few hundred miles away in Blacksburg with the Virginia Tech Hokies. On November 19, 2025, a press conference was held in his honor at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Virginia. John Rocovich, Timothy Sands, James Franklin, and Whit Babcock were present, marking the beginning of Franklin’s new chapter.

While Franklin takes on this new role, his statements at ACC Media Days seem reminiscent of his previous offseason speeches at Penn State. The familiar tone of aiming to “win the offseason” is heard again, but years in State College have made many skeptical, considering the mixed results despite having promising teams on paper.

Under Franklin’s management at Penn State, he compiled a record of 4-21 against top-ten opponents. Only capturing one Big Ten title during over 11 seasons left room for criticism and earned him the sarcastic nickname “Big Game James.” The opinions shared in comments by disappointed fans emphasize this point.

Now at Virginia Tech, Franklin faces a different set of expectations. The team, once successful under Frank Beamer, struggles, highlighted by a 3-9 record in 2025. While expectations for immediate success are tempered, the hope is that Franklin can guide the Hokies back to national relevance. Despite doubts, many believe that Franklin is a capable coach who may lead Virginia Tech to prominence.

The challenge for Franklin now lies in translating offseason progress into victories. This will determine whether his positive outlook at Virginia Tech holds true or if his statements can backfire by the season’s end.