New Favorite Emerges for Penn State Head-Coaching Job

By Michael Gallagher

Contributing Sports Writer

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As Florida and LSU battle it out for Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, another one of college football’s premier head-coaching jobs also remains open.

It’s been more than a month since Penn State fired James Franklin following a disappointing 3-3 start that also coincided with the loss of star quarterback Drew Allar to a season-ending ankle injury.

Franklin exits after 11-plus seasons that included a 104-45 record, five bowl wins, one Big Ten championship, and a College Football Playoff appearance.

While Penn State casts a wide net in its search for Franklin’s successor, it appears a new favorite has emerged for the position as Florida and LSU turn their focus toward wooing Kiffin out of Mississippi.

More News: James Franklin Rejected Major College Program Before Taking Virginia Tech Job

Former Penn State head coach James Franklin

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According to Penn State reporter Jon Sauber of Centre Daily, Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key is the current frontrunner to be the Nittany Lions next head coach as of Friday morning.

“Key gets the top spot because [he is] more of a priority here as the search winds closer to an end,” Sauber wrote. “He was aggressive in his loyalty to Georgia Tech, his alma mater, saying ‘Slice me open and see what colors I bleed’ earlier this month — but he wouldn’t be the first head coach to say one thing then do another.

“It’s no guarantee that he gets the offer or that he takes it, but right now Key is the strongest combination of the candidates when it comes to being someone Penn State likes and someone who is realistically hireable.”

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Sauber also named Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer as the second-most likely candidate to get the job. DeBoer emerged as a top candidate for Penn State on Thursday, and speculation about him leaving the Crimson Tide has only grown from there.

Key is a hot name among the second tier of top coaching candidates this hiring cycle along with Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz and Tulane’s Jon Sumrall.

In four seasons with Georgia Tech, Key has a 27-17 record, including his 9-1 mark this season. If the Yellow Jackets beat Pittsburgh on Saturday, they’ll punch their ticket to the ACC Championship Game.

More News: Penn State’s Drew Allar Breaks Silence on Virginia Tech Hiring James Franklin

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