REPORT: There may be mutual interest between James Franklin and USC

A certain name is reportedly gaining steam in the hunt for the next USC head coach.

On Wednesday morning’s “Dan Patrick Show,” Patrick discussed the rumor that Penn State head coach James Franklin might consider the USC job.

“A source told me this morning that there is mutual interest [between] USC and a current college coach,” Patrick said before asking for guesses as to who it is. 

After comments included Franklin, Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck, Iowa State’s Matt Campbell and Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald, Patrick confirmed the source told him it was Franklin. 

On Tuesday, Franklin had his first press conference since the news began to develop Monday night, and he was asked about the opening.

“As you guys know, I can’t stand any form of distraction,” Franklin told reporters. “I’ll discuss this today with the leadership council, so we can make sure that all of our energy is on our preparation for Auburn. That’s how we’ll handle it. I’m going to talk to the leadership council today about it.”

“That’s a non-denial denial,” Patrick said after replaying the clip on his show. “What coach loves a good distraction? And the leadership council, what’s this have to do with the leadership council? I don’t know who is on the leadership council.”

Patrick added that while Franklin has done a good job in Happy Valley, he may be ready for a new frontier.

“A lot of these coaches look at it like ‘I’m done with this. Next challenge,” he said. “Maybe that’s the case [with Franklin]. I don’t know.”

Contractual barriers to USC pursuing Franklin

The Nittany Lions signed Franklin to a six-year contract extension following the 2019 season. The deal calls for Franklin to make $5.5 million this season, with his salary raised by $250,000 annually through 2025. The deal averages $5.9 million in guaranteed annual compensation.

Franklin’s buyout is $4 million this year, decreasing by $1 million each year until 2025, at which point there is no buyout. 

Included alongside Franklin’s guaranteed annual pay are his bonuses. These include a retention bonus, paying Franklin $500,000 this year and every year on the remainder of his contract if he is kept as Penn State’s coach. Additionally, Franklin’s performance bonuses include $800,000 for winning the national championship, $350,000 for winning a Big Ten championship, $100,000 for being named Big Ten Coach of the Year and $150,000 for National Coach of the Year, among other benchmarks.

Franklin is in his eighth season at Penn State, where he holds a 62-28 record. He won the Big Ten title in 2016 and has been to one Rose Bowl, where the Nittany Lions fell to USC, 52-49 that year. They won the Cotton Bowl in 2019.

Auburn comes to Happy Valley on Saturday

Franklin’s most immediate concern is likely a date with the No. 22 Auburn Tigers on Saturday night. The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC and will be Penn State’s annual Whiteout Game.

On3’s Simon Gibbs contributed to this report.