Fansided

5 potential replacements for James Franklin at Penn State

By John Buhler

Nov 7, 2015; Evanston, IL, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin during the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Evanston, IL, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin during the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
Nov 28, 2015; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley watches a replay during the second half against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium. Oklahoma won 58-23. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley watches a replay during the second half against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium. Oklahoma won 58-23. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Lincoln Riley – Oklahoma Sooners offensive coordinator

One of the better offensive coordinators in that might make the leap to a head coaching gig next season has to be Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley. In his first year in Norman, the Sooners won the Big 12 and played in the College Football Playoff while having one of the highest-scoring offenses.

Riley stems from the impressive Mike Leach Air Raid coaching tree as a former quarterback for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. By bringing the Air Raid and most importantly quarterback Baker Mayfield with him from Lubbock, Oklahoma has the offense to pair with a usually strong Stoops defense in Oklahoma.

Could the Air Raid work at Penn State? That may not be ideal because of the harsh late fall winds associated with the Mid-Atlantic, but Riley has been willing to use his running back when he has to. Riley has a great running back at Oklahoma in Samaje Perine.

It may not be in 2017, but Riley is going to be a head coach in the Power 5 by the end of the decade. His teams have always been able to move the football, something Penn State has struggled with during the Franklin era.

Next: 2. Tom Herman

Home/College Football