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Penn State football coach James Franklin issues non-denial denial about USC interest

By Jordanna Clark

Oct 31, 2020; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin looks on during the first quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2020; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin looks on during the first quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /
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After USC fired Clay Helton on Monday, rumors are swirling around Penn State head coach James Franklin being the next leader for the Trojans.

After a 42-28 upset loss to Stanford on Saturday at the Coliseum, USC took charge and fired head coach Clay Helton on Monday.

Helton, who finished with a 46-24 record, says his goodbye to the Trojans after having been on the staff since 2010 whenever he was first hired as a quarterbacks coach. After firing its head coach after Week 2, Penn State head coach James Franklin is once again being mentioned as a candidate for the USC position.

James Franklin says that he can’t be distracted with talk of USC job

Franklin has been head coach of the Nittany Lions since 2014 and after starting out the season 2-0 with a matchup against No. 22 Auburn on Saturday night, he doesn’t want to be distracted by the USC rumors.

Understandably, Franklin wants to keep the Auburn game at the forefront of his mind rather than worry about rumors regarding his future. If Penn State can’t land one of the lead names for the job, such as Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell and former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops who are arguably the top realistic candidates for the position, and Franklin isn’t offered a raise and extension, the USC rumors may turn into something more substantial.

A new opportunity at USC may just be enough to lure Franklin away from the Nittany Lions.

As for now, the rumors are just that. In the meantime, USC cornerbacks coach Donte Williams has been named as the interim head coach. The search will gain more traction in the next couple of months and who knows, when all is said and done Franklin could be headed for the West Coast.

Only time will tell.

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