🚨 Virginia Tech Hiring James Franklin As Head Coach | Cover 3 College Football

Summary

Podcast Summary: 🚨 Virginia Tech Hiring James Franklin As Head Coach | Cover 3 College Football

Podcast: Cover 3 College Football
Hosts: Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, Danny Kanell, Bud Elliott
Date: November 17, 2025
Episode Focus: Immediate analysis and big-picture implications of James Franklin being hired as head coach at Virginia Tech, and what the move means for the Hokies, the ACC, and the wider coaching carousel.

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Episode Overview

The Cover 3 crew delivers an emergency breakdown of the major college football story: James Franklin leaving Penn State to become the head football coach at Virginia Tech. The team debates how the hire impacts both programs, examines Franklin’s fit with the Hokies, and discusses broader implications for the ACC and the ongoing coaching carousel.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Is This a James Franklin Story or a Virginia Tech Story?

• Tom Fornelli (03:15): “Probably some of both. Right? I mean, I think Franklin would have had options if he wanted to sit out the year and survey the landscape... His approach at Penn State was awesome ... runs just like a pretty good operation, man.”
• Bud Elliott and Chip Patterson agree this isn’t just about getting a big name—Virginia Tech is stepping up financially and organizationally.

2. The Process and Perceptions at Virginia Tech

• Investment and Commitment: The panel underscores that VT’s hire signals a renewed commitment to football excellence, with significant new financial backing.

  • Tom (04:34): “They just took a guy off his staff in Brent Pry ... part of the interview process was ... how is your approach going to be different given a lot of Brent's formative years as a D coordinator were with you?”
  • Chip (05:15): “Virginia Tech needed to be in a better spot than they were.”

• Possible Concerns Over Resource Allocation:

  • Tom (05:25): Wonders if VT overpaid for Franklin at the expense of NIL and rostering — “If you had to overspend a ton to get Franklin... what do you have left for the roster?”

3. Analysis of the Hire: Fit, Ceiling, and Conference Impact

• Danny Kanell (06:17, tongue-in-cheek multitake): “I think this is a terrible hire, worst decision that Virginia Tech can make ... I love the hire. I really do. I think it makes a ton of sense for both parties.”

• Franklin’s Track Record: Built up Vanderbilt, rescued Penn State post-sanctions — highest critiques came only when PSU fans wanted national championships.

• Opportunity in the ACC: Easier path versus PSU’s Big Ten gauntlet—“It is much easier to win [in the ACC] than it was going to be for James Franklin to win at Penn State” (Danny, 07:39).

• Immediate Consequences:

  • Staff & Recruiting: Franklin’s detailed knowledge via Brent Pry, full dossier on the program’s strengths and weaknesses.
  • Virginia Tech’s upward mobility: “Tech has a lot of upward mobility in this conference ... a well-funded Tech ... could be a top four program” (Tom, 09:44-10:12).
  • Reviving a Dormant Brand: “James Franklin makes Virginia Tech a part of the conversation” (Chip, 12:35).

4. ACC Implications

• A Sign of Seriousness:
  • Danny (10:46): “I think this is a good hire for the ACC ... problem with the ACC in recent years has been they just haven’t had enough programs taking football seriously enough.”
• Making VT a TV Draw: “When they're winning games, Virginia Tech is now a television draw ... Enter Sandman ... that's a prime time game” (Danny, 12:10).

5. Measuring Up to the Beamer Standard

• Chip (15:00): “Frank Beamer career winning percentage at Virginia Tech is 659. James Franklin career winning percentage is .680 ... I think James Franklin can deliver Frank Beamer results.”
• Consensus: Franklin is seen as capable of bringing VT back to consistent double-digit win seasons and ACC championship contention.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “James Franklin is a rock star. In terms of being like a face of the league ... James Franklin leading Virginia Tech is going to be something that people talk about.”
  — Chip Patterson, 12:24

• “Virginia Tech has not been a part of the conversation. James Franklin makes Virginia Tech a part of the conversation.”
  — Chip Patterson, 12:35

• “I think this is a good hire for the ACC ... a sign that Virginia Tech is getting back in the business of football and doing it in a serious way.”
  — Danny Kanell, 10:46

• “If the standard is Frank Beamer, I think James Franklin can deliver.”
  — Chip Patterson, 15:17

• “I wish it would be Charlie Weiss.”
  — Chip Patterson jokes about possible interim at Ole Miss, 28:05

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:55 – News break: Virginia Tech hires James Franklin. Initial reactions.
• 03:15 – Franklin's track record and fit at VT, dual story for both school and coach.
• 05:25 – Budgetary implications—concern about resource allocation to Franklin vs. NIL and staff.
• 06:17 – Danny’s playful “both sides” take: why the hire makes sense, for both parties.
• 09:44-10:12 – Ceiling for VT with Franklin, upward mobility in the ACC.
• 10:46-12:35 – What the hire means for ACC, seriousness of the move, and VT’s national profile.
• 15:00-16:37 – Comparing Franklin’s potential to Frank Beamer’s legendary run.
• 17:51 – Broader coaching carousel implications; where other programs might look now.
• 21:50 – Grading the hire and VT’s process.
• 29:00-30:45 – Franklin’s contract details, buyout logistics discussed.

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Broader Coaching Carousel Discussion

• Domino Effect: Franklin’s exit sharpens focus for Arkansas, Oklahoma State, UCLA. Bob Chesney, Sean Lewis, and Manny Diaz mentioned as next top candidates.
• Contract Trends: Musings on whether schools will curb the length and cost of head coach contracts after recent market resets.

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Fun Moments & Lighthearted Exchanges

• Lane Kiffin Jokes: Extended riffing on Lane Kiffin’s job search antics (“Lane wants the eyes on ... this is a Lane Kiffin masterpiece”, 24:41–27:52).
• Recruiting Fallout: Watching Penn State decommitments and whether Franklin brings staffers like Andy Frank to VT (31:02).
• Cultural Impact: Multiple references to “Enter Sandman” and VT as a TV draw (12:08).

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Summary in Closing

The consensus from all four hosts: James Franklin’s hire at Virginia Tech is a significant, ambitious move that signals serious investment and revival for Hokie football. The fit is strong, the upside is real, and the move elevates the ACC while sending ripples through the broader college football coaching landscape. All eyes now fall on how Franklin leverages VT’s resources, staff, and potential in a more navigable ACC—setting the stage for the Hokies’ return to prominence.

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For Listeners:

If you want a comprehensive breakdown of how coaching hires reshape programs and conferences—beyond just the headlines—this episode is a must-listen.

Transcript

[Chip Patterson]

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[Tom Fornelli]

Welcome Back to the COVID 3 podcast with your hosts Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, Danny Cannell and Bud Elliott. It's your call for the best college football coverage from national Signing day to the national championship and everything in between. CBS Sports presents the COVID 3 podcast.

[Chip Patterson]

And welcome back three podcast here on CBS Sports. That's Tom Fornelli, that's Bud Elliott. I'm Chip Patterson coming to you [e-mail] cover3 and everywhere you get your podcast on a man. Thanks for hanging out. Smash that, subscribe Smash that like and come and join us in the chat. AKA the COVID 3 tailgate. Where you see those sirens in your feed, you know exactly what that means. Virginia Tech Poly. The Virginia Poly Institution Polytechnical Institute at University. Yeah, VPI Virginia Tech. Not VA Tech. Virginia Tech got its guy. Congratulations to the Hokies. Because if you know a hokie, if there's a hokie in your life, this James Franklin stuff has driven you crazy for about three to four weeks. You know, I mean the flight tracker, this getting spotted on campus. Oh, he's at the ODU game. You know, that could also be a recruiting hot spot for Virginia Tech. It's true, it's. It was a long run, but Virginia Tech gets its guy. James Franklin will be. Is expected to be the next head coach for the Hokies. I was just on CBS Sports HQ with Tom. I've got a sense of his initial read on this, bud. How. Where. Where do you start with this in terms. Is it a James Franklin story or is it a Virginia Tech story to you?

[Tom Fornelli]

Probably some of both. Right? I mean, I think Franklin would have had options if he wanted to sit out the year and survey the landscape, maybe, you know, kind of take stock of his approach and what he was doing. I think overall, like, his approach at Penn State was awesome. Right. Like, they won a whole lot of games in a sport that is, like, increasingly chaotic year to year. They were extremely stable up until, you know, this last season. And obviously, we're out as welcome a little bit there at Penn State just, you know, by doing kind of the same thing every year, which is bumping their heads up against that ceiling and maybe not be able to break through with the national championship or. Or a national championship appearance. But I. I think the guy runs a good organization. I think he's proven he's, you know, pretty good at hiring coaches and. And, you know, will cast a. A wide net doing so and. And runs just like a pretty good organ, like Operation Man. Honestly, like, it's a very, I would say, competent head coaching hire. As Tom always says, great hire. I have no idea if it's going to work out. And that's. I think that's true.

[Chip Patterson]

Right. Have you tweeted it?

[Tom Fornelli]

Yes. Did you tweet it yet? All right, excellent. Like, I mean, we generally don't know how it's going to work out, but I. Sometimes we could first guess. Like, that doesn't make any sense. Right. Occasionally it's like, all right, this is the AD hiring his buddy type thing. And I. I don't think that's the case here. And he must have really nailed the interview, because if you think about it, like, they just took a guy off his staff in Brent Pry, who was. He was like. He was a hokey.

[Chip Patterson]

Right.

[Tom Fornelli]

And so, you know, I'm sure part of the interview process was okay. Not that, you know, exactly what Brent did here. It failed. How is your approach going to be different given that a lot of, you know, Brent's formative years as a D coordinator were with you. So, like, how does that look different? And then also, I think it's a hokey story because they just kind of came out and said, we have not been committed to football. Our. Our expectations do not Match our spending, I think was the, the line from Whit Babcock, the athletic director, when he was addressing the board, you know, they put a whole lot more money up. We don't know what the split of that money is. Right. Like how much of that is, you know, facilities, debt, maintenance, coaching staff, support staff. Nil.

[Chip Patterson]

Oh, matter, bud. It's Virginia Tech needed to be like, Virginia Tech needed to be in a better spot than they were.

[Tom Fornelli]

Well, but I would push back slightly.

[Chip Patterson]

Chip.

[Tom Fornelli]

I think it does matter that, like, if you had to overspend a ton to get Franklin to say yes, what do you have left over for the roster?

[Danny Cannell]

Sure.

[Tom Fornelli]

Right. Like, that's kind of the question I would have. Like, as a knoll, people are like, oh, are we gonna let him go to go to Virginia Tech? I'm like, if they're just putting out an arm and a leg just to get him, I don't think you have to match that kind of money. Right. Like, like, so I, I will be curious like what the salary is and what like the actual pot is for nil. Because Tech has lost their best players each of the last two offseasons to SEC powers, they have not really been competitive in the nil space. That's an odd question for me.

[Danny Cannell]

What's his offset language in his contract at Penn State?

[Chip Patterson]

Load this thing. He could come on for early years and backload the contract to really stick it to Penn State.

[Danny Cannell]

Exactly. For my feelings on a chip, you know what I said in hq. So I'm going to play both sides here, so I can't be wrong. I think this is a terrible hire, worst decision that Virginia Tech can make. The decision James Franklin. I, I, I love the hire. I really do. I think it makes a ton of sense for both parties. I think that for Virginia Tech in this market, with the other jobs that are available, to be able to strike on their top target before the other teams ever really get down to him because they're too busy waiting for coaches who are currently still employed and currently might be going to the College Football Playoff. I think the timing works out wonderful for Virginia Tech to get him in. And I also, honestly, I think it's a great hire for James Franklin in that he took the Vanderbilt job and built that program from nothing to where they were winning nine games and was so successful doing so that Penn State looked at him and said, we should hire that guy so he goes to Penn State. Bill o' Brien had been there and Bill o' Brien did a pretty decent job, but they were Still a program that was stuck in both the past from being, you know, still thinking it was like 1983 and that kind of like, whatever, we're going to live and relive the glory days. But also was absolutely hammered by the NCAA because of the Sandusky scandal. So they were. They had a big hole to dig themselves out of, and James Franklin did such a great job of getting them out of that hole that eventually it wasn't good enough anymore because it's like, well, crap, we're not winning national titles. We're not winning the Big Ten. So they get rid of him. Now he goes to Virginia Tech, a program with a storied history, most of it from a while ago that is trying to get back to winning ways in a league where, frankly, it is much easier to win than it was going to be for James Franklin to win at Penn State when you have to go against Ohio State and Michigan and now Oregon and usc. I. I'm not going to sit here and say Virginia Tech is back, but I think this is an excellent first step in that process.

[Chip Patterson]

The Brent Pry thing, bud, makes me think that he knows everything about Virginia Tech. The good, the bad, the ugly. You know, that relationship has to be part of your research process before you say yes, if you're James Franklin. So in that sense, I'm thinking, wow, it might be. Virginia Tech is serious about this investment. You know, like, if. If James Franklin is saying, if I'm going to lead you into the future, if I'm going to help you understand. Because having money and knowing how to spend it are two different things. And I think that James Franklin's experience of the different places that he's been can make him a great, great leader in those efforts to kind of modernize the program. So the fact that he would have the opportunity to have Brent Pry badmouth him and be like, dude, it's a house of cards. It's like, do not go there. The fact that that opportunity might have been there and it. And James Franklin still says yes, and still says yes on November 17, when you could have, you know, maybe played this thing and sort of pushed it out. Virginia Tech might have had to go an arm and a leg in on this, as you mentioned it, but they've got their guy, and now they've got. He can start working on putting together the staff and getting their recruiting plan in order. So it's a good position for Virginia Tech and I think speaks that their commitment has to be real, because I don't think Franklin says yes if he doesn't think that he would be able to.

[Tom Fornelli]

I mean, I, I think like, like you said, Pry probably had to tell them, hey, this place is winnable if they were actually spending the money they're going to spend.

[Chip Patterson]

Right.

[Tom Fornelli]

When I was still the head coach. Right. It was just, it was just too little, too late for me to, to actually make an impact here. So if that money's real, if they're actually like putting that stuff up, then, then you can win here. And I, I do think Tech has a lot of upward mobility in this conference. Like, like a well funded Tech. Just looking at this like, I expect.

[Chip Patterson]

Them to be better.

[Tom Fornelli]

Georgia Tech.

[Chip Patterson]

Like, should be, could be top four program. Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

I think that's probably your expectations. And I think like, you know how.

[Chip Patterson]

We tried to figure out where to put smu where it's like, all right, SMU is always gonna have a roster. As long as they've got Rhett, they're going to be well coached. Like smu you have to walk into every season, you're like, I don't know, top five, top six. You know, somewhere in that upper tier, Virginia Tech should be there in that conversation with an SMU with another one of those teams in that, in that range.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah. If you're doing your job, it's top third in the ACC. Yeah. I mean, there's like, there's 17 teams. So top third is like top five, top six, for sure. Yeah. And if you're, if you're a bottom half, you got real reason to be disappointed.

[Danny Cannell]

And that's the other part of this. I think this is a good hire for the acc.

[Chip Patterson]

Oh yeah, for sure.

[Danny Cannell]

Yeah. Like, you know, like on our morning, this morning show, I was making fun of the league, but like, the problem with the ACC in recent years has been they just haven't had enough programs taking football seriously enough. This is a sign that Virginia Tech is getting back in the business of football and doing it in a serious way. They're not looking for an up and coming coordinator. They're already investing a bunch of money into getting one of the top tier coaching that's left on the market. So you put that on there, you got what SMU has been doing. Florida State clearly is do whatever the hell. They'll go as far in debt as they have to to win football games. And that's going to be the plan. Whether that's this year, next. Clemson's going to try to get back Miami's investing. So you're finally starting to see more of these teams. In that league and like North Carolina took a swing to their credit. I think it's a huge miss, but they took the swing. So you're still seeing teams that are now really kind of starting to get it, which I think in the long haul or I don't know if there really is a long haul in the ACC at this point. But either way it's a sign that you're going in the right direction and to have more schools because we've seen what Virginia Tech can be when it's going well. It's it. This is a nationally relevant program. When they're winning games, it's a wonderful environment to watch a football game. So if that team is good and they're winning games, Virginia Tech is now a television draw. Because that's.

[Chip Patterson]

Yes, that's what I'm saying.

[Danny Cannell]

You get, you get the Metallica intro. You get Enter Sandman. Like that's a prime time game. That could be, not, not a Thursday night, that could be a Saturday night game. Florida State's coming to Lane Stad. That's a huge game for the league.

[Chip Patterson]

This is a real threat to the time slot champs banner. I mean, goodbye cw, hello new espn. James Franklin is a rock star.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

In terms of being like a face of the league, James Franklin leading Virginia Tech is going to be something that people talk about. Like. Yeah, if you just. I, yeah, the winning is good. I've got one more point that I definitely want to make about it being a good hire. But on just the, the, the silly stuff, the stuff about time slot champs and how much you are like sort of in the college football conversation. Virginia Tech has not been a part of the conversation. James Franklin makes Virginia Tech a part of the conversation. And I think to your point, Tom, about the other splash hire in the ACC recently, I think with Franklin you're just getting obvious college coaching experience that is not replicated in the other.

[Tom Fornelli]

It's, it's a great time to hire a coach for them. I think like truly get the money. I mean there's no real guarantee. NC State bounces back. Like there's no guarantee. Florida State bounces back fast. Right? Like you know, unc, maybe they have a great year next year, but I'm not entirely sure of that. What, like what is his ability to have a big time of year next year if they crush the portal? Like what's their schedule next year?

[Chip Patterson]

Oh you. Are you gonna pull it up?

[Tom Fornelli]

Well, yeah, because for a while they were playing like big time non conference games. I'm just curious if that trend is. Oh, this is nice. Oh.

[Danny Cannell]

At home this time, man.

[Tom Fornelli]

VMI Old Dominion @ Maryland. James Madison.

[Chip Patterson]

Hey, James. Hey. James Madison. That'll be a banger game.

[Tom Fornelli]

Oh, chip in in league uva, bc, Cal at Clemson at Miami. So those two are, are tough. Although Clemson loses a ton of host Georgia Tech, host NC State, host Pitt.

[Chip Patterson]

That's a solid ACC schedule. Like not easy, not hard. I would say that's middle of the pack.

[Tom Fornelli]

Like there's no Louisville, there's no smu, there's no Florida State. I'm trying the teams that spend, right? Clemson, Miami, Florida State, Louisville, smu.

[Chip Patterson]

I'll say this, you're gonna be two of the five. You're gonna be tested in the back half of the season. We'll see how the roster is built, but.

[Tom Fornelli]

Well, it's not in order obviously because they haven't. It's the ACC. They'll probably announce the order in like June.

[Danny Cannell]

Six day window.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, six day window.

[Tom Fornelli]

But like you probably should be going 3 and 1 or 40 in that non copper slate. Assuming JME loses quite a bit off this schedule, you know, like that's big. And just blindly if they're really, really spending, they're favored in what, half of these conference games? At least maybe, maybe five.

[Chip Patterson]

Do you know what I think? Do you know what I think James Franklin can do? I think, how about this? Frank Beamer career winning percentage at Virginia Tech is 659. James Franklin career winning percentage is.680.

[Tom Fornelli]

Right.

[Chip Patterson]

I think James Franklin can deliver Frank Beamer results.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

And Frank Beamer is your legend. Like that is the icon of your program. I think if the standard is Frank Beamer, I think James Franklin can deliver.

[Danny Cannell]

Frank Beamer o you can keep more of that talent home in Virginia than the last few staffs have.

[Tom Fornelli]

Let's take a look here. I'm just trying to think what Beamer did in the acc, right.

[Chip Patterson]

Do you know what he did? He won a lot of conference championships and then went to the Orange bowl and lost.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah, I mean they won.

[Chip Patterson]

James Franklin can't win a bunch of ACC championships and go lose in the College Football Playoff. Virginia Tech would love to be losing in the College Football Playoff like that.

[Tom Fornelli]

That was eight years in a row of 10 plus when 10 plus wins once they joined the ACC.

[Chip Patterson]

Right. But how many? 12, zero. You know, ever since like the Vic meteor year.

[Tom Fornelli]

Right.

[Chip Patterson]

You'd always lose a couple games.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah, you had 11 and 2. You had 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 seasons of 3 losses. But it was like 10 and 3 or 11 and 3 and then you had the 110 and 4 year. Yeah. And like with the league being so down, I agree with you, like, the upward mobility here is quite high if they do it right.

[Danny Cannell]

Also, like two, three loss seasons are okay now. You can get into the playoff that way. Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

If Miami is sitting here at 8 and 2 with a path to the College Football Playoff, then sure, Virginia Tech can be there. So we agree across the board, good match, good fit, excited about Virginia Tech. The first inner sandman with J of the James Franklin era is going to rock.

[Danny Cannell]

And you know, I, I bet. Let's see, who do they open the season with?

[Chip Patterson]

Vmi.

[Danny Cannell]

Oh, never mind. I was gonna say if they had like, if that Maryland game or something was like a season opener that was going to be like the Sunday night ABC game.

[Chip Patterson]

Oh, yeah, maybe. All right. Coming up on the other side, what does Franklin at Virginia Tech mean for the rest of the coaching carousel and more next.

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[Chip Patterson]

Back here at the on the COVID 3 podcast, continuing to react to the news of James Franklin, expected to be the next head coach at Virginia Tech. So James Franklin, of course, throughout these discussions was, you know, talking to Virginia Tech also, as we understand it, you know, gauging what the rest of the landscape was going to be, what jobs were open, also what jobs may become open. So let's, let's go quick. No minute. Does this mean Mike Norvell is on any less of a hot seat in the moment?

[Tom Fornelli]

I don't think so. But maybe if you, if you subscribe to the idea that they feel like they have to get a big name, right. Like some of their actions as an administration have not been super progressive, you know, like dumping a whole lot of money into facilities kind of at the end of the facilities boom, you know, I, I don't really know if that's like something you could say was a terrible idea because, you know, like, you're not giving that building back, obviously. But part of making a higher is selling it to your boosters. We talk about this as well, like when we go back to the Matt Rule Nebraska discussion, you know, like, is Matt Rule really giving above expectation results for what Nebraska, given Nebraska's spending level, I don't really think so. Right. But if you're an ad, you fundraise off the head coach like as much as the players are paid, the players are higher profile now than they've ever been. Like your head coach is still, is still the superstar. And so you have to. Sometimes you have to have a guy you can really fundraise off and sell. Like, hey, this is the guy. Even though the. There's no real upside, I don't think in terms of success to selling the guy. Unless you really don't think you can fundraise off somebody else. So I, I mean it's one less guy they could hire. I think if you're a knoll just given some of the contracts they've given out, you're probably like, oh, thank God, like you didn't try to.

[Chip Patterson]

I'm not wrong.

[Tom Fornelli]

Text, you know, like rainmaker offer.

[Chip Patterson]

So. But I'm not wrong to think see a Florida State fan reaction out there that's like, damn, I wish we had moved on, Mike, because I wanted James Franklin at Florida State. Like I'm not.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah, I think that's like, that's definitely prevalent out there. Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

All right. That's what I was sensing. Well, so what is this? What are, what are the dominoes? Obviously Franklin's off the market, so other. Maybe it sharpens the focus in other jobs. Maybe Franklin's off the market. Arkansas now has more clarity in terms of where it wants to go. You know, Franklin's off the market. Maybe things start to progress at a ucla. You know something we, when we were ranking the open jobs, there were very clearly tiers, you know, and Virginia Tech was not in the top tier. But Virginia Tech had peers in its top tier. So who do you think we should be keeping an eye on next?

[Tom Fornelli]

I think it's a better job than Arkansas. Like Virginia Tech has come out and said we are spending like publicly Arkansas, like they really have not. You know, I think this is probably a good thing for like you said Arkansas, probably Oklahoma State. Right. If they were in the golesh market. You know, I'm trying to think like.

[Chip Patterson]

You know what Marcelo said. Brandon Marcelo? Wait, didn't Brandon Marcelo mentioned the Bob Chesney is the. The name to watch next and maybe. Yeah, maybe even at ucla. Yeah, I hadn't. He said that on CBS Sports hq. I hadn't put all those together yet. I thought that was an interesting wrinkle. That for sure just makes Bob Chesney, in my mind, the best next candidate sort of on the market. He's. He's the creme de la creme. If you're in the market, you got to at least talk to Bob Chesney.

[Tom Fornelli]

I was thinking Sean Lewis, ucla. But, like, Chesney would be a good hire as well, I'm sure. I mean, nice track record of winning. Again, like Tom says, no idea if it'll work out. But yeah, I mean, good track record of winning ball games. So that. That makes sense. Ucla, trying to think who else Virginia Tech was truly considering. I don't have a great feel for who the rest of their list was because from. From, like, the early onset, they were like, hey, you know, Franklin's the guy. Like, they were fairly clear about. You know what I'm saying?

[Chip Patterson]

All right, so there's grade that. How about there's grade the higher and grade the process. Right, right. So forget grade the higher. Grade the process. A. Yeah, they. They found someone that they really wanted. They went out, they landed them, and now they're able to introduce him on a perfect timeline for him to be able to be successful like that. Process A plus higher. We'll see. You know, a Danny Canel, C plus. But, like, I. I truly think that for Virginia Tech, what. What led to Brent Pry, what even led to maybe Justin Fuente, you know, the process didn't go like this. So congratulations on that.

[Tom Fornelli]

Reporting from the bov, which. Oh, sorry. Okay. They. They talked to Franklin, Chesney, Manny Diaz. That's good for Duke, right? I think Duke certainly wants to keep Manny. Yeah. What other jobs? Like, I don't think Auburn was competing in the same pool as them.

[Chip Patterson]

You don't think that James Franklin to Auburn had any potential?

[Tom Fornelli]

No.

[Danny Cannell]

Okay. I don't know if this is going to start like. Like, we talked about this on hq, and I did a bad job answering the question, so I'm going to fix my answer. I don't think this is going to start movement. I don't think this is like a domino that's going to get coaches hired. I think that one thing we have to remember is that James Franklin is unemployed. James Franklin is free to take a job right now. None of these other coaches are so, like Chesney Diaz, the guys heck was talking to, the guys all the other schools are talking to, we're all still sitting in their current jobs. And until we see a coach get up and leave while the season still has two weeks left, I just don't think we're gonna ever see that.

[Chip Patterson]

Speaking of having your eyes elsewhere before the season's over, I don't blame the Kiffin family for going to check out your options. I think the fact that reportedly they were in Gainesville and reportedly in Baton Rouge is smart. This is. This is the off week. You know, we're coming up on Thanksgiving week with this. This is a time where you want to have all of the information.

[Danny Cannell]

Chip, how many other coaching searches do you remember where it came public knowledge that the coaching candidate's family was touring the town?

[Chip Patterson]

I. I'm just, you know, trying to put myself in their shoes. I would want to check out the high schools, too. You know, just. That's what I would. That's what I. Before I had a big decision to make. I want to get all of the information. The Kiffin family is just being very, you know, thorough. I applaud how thorough the Kiffin family is being as they go through this process.

[Tom Fornelli]

What did he say, like, three hours ago? Like, this could be a Sexton thing, but, like, Lane wants the eyes on.

[Chip Patterson]

Oh, this is Lane week. The Ole Miss is off. But we're taught Ole Miss is going to be talked about every single day this week.

[Tom Fornelli]

He likes the attention, man.

[Danny Cannell]

Hey.

[Tom Fornelli]

I mean, if you're Ole Miss, like, I. I don't know if you're shocked, but you gotta be at least a little bit surprised that it's going to these lengths, right? Like, I mean, how many schools are there really to go to in Gainesville, bud? At this, probably one public high school and, like, one private high school.

[Chip Patterson]

I think Lane is taking his OVs. I think he's doing his official visits and just getting them out of the system. Trying to see, like, on the night before the egg bowl, three hats on a table. He is going to make college football sit through a Lane Kiffin commitment video.

[Tom Fornelli]

I mean, dude, stream out where the Waffle House is.

[Danny Cannell]

You know, you got to find out. You gotta. You gotta see what kind of condition it's in, where it's located.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah.

[Danny Cannell]

Testing out the local chicken joints, barbecue.

[Chip Patterson]

Joints, figure out what's better.

[Tom Fornelli]

I mean, I don't think you. I think you can let him do this through the egg bowl. Honestly, unless you really have the stones to say, we need. We need an answer, like, we're gonna fire you. Like, Florida State did not let Jimbo coach that final game, right? Because Thrasher called him in and was like, hey, if you're out.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, yeah, if you're out, be out.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

Because it hadn't been finalized with a M yet. It was just felt. It was like everyone knew it was headed in that direction.

[Tom Fornelli]

Correct. And he had pretty much spoiled the relationship with a lot of the boosters anyway at that point. Which, again, could or could not apply here. Right.

[Chip Patterson]

If I am Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter, I would. I do not want to wake up on the morning of the Egg bowl without certainty signed.

[Tom Fornelli]

I mean, I'm not convinced they have the stones to say, like, hey, before the Egg bowl or not. But I guarantee you, like, they need to get this done before the playoff because it's going to impact their ability to search for a coach.

[Chip Patterson]

Again. I applaud how thorough the Kiffin family is being with their, you know, research on these potential areas. I look forward to the commitment video from Lane Kiffin.

[Tom Fornelli]

I mean, I know that, like, there's been reporting out there that, like, they're giving him ultimatums and stuff, but I'm not gonna. I'm not gonna doubt Lane Kiffin's ability to drag this out and keep the spotlight stretched.

[Chip Patterson]

Absolutely not. I wanted to be very clear. The COVID 3 podcast does not. It does not strongly report anything other than. This is this. This is Elaine Kiffin masterpiece right here.

[Danny Cannell]

Also, there was, like, the report that Ole Miss is, you know, might just let somebody else coach the playoff games if they don't get a decision soon. Do you guys think that Ole Miss, after finally reaching the College Football Playoff, would tell the coach who got him there that he can't coach them in those games?

[Tom Fornelli]

Well, I just think, yeah, if he's leaving. I think so. Oh, because I think they want the spot. This is what I'm saying.

[Danny Cannell]

Like, but what if they don't know if he's leaving? He just hasn't made the decision yet.

[Tom Fornelli]

I think that, like, they can ask for an actual answer by that point. Either either sign the new deal or. Or you're done. Right. Like, we're talking about the playoffs here. Like, again, I don't know if I totally buy this before the Egg bowl stuff. Maybe it happens, maybe it doesn't. But I do think they'll get this done before the playoff.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah. They've already identified potential interim coaches. It's.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

Bananas.

[Tom Fornelli]

It would be Golding, I assume, right?

[Danny Cannell]

I would assume so, yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

The DCP Golding.

[Chip Patterson]

I wish it would be Charlie Weiss.

[Tom Fornelli]

Do you think he'll do, like, a video announcement? Yes, I.

[Danny Cannell]

He'll bring a co ed from each school out. He'll pick the hottest one.

[Chip Patterson]

No.

[Tom Fornelli]

What. What if they put, like, three planes in the air and he's like, on none of them. And he just shows up to practice it. Ole Miss. Or like, like, oh, dude, you could have Jimmy Sexton get off the one in Gainesville. Okay. Like, and delayed and have it. And then, you know, somebody else get, like, okay, like, shoot. Like, oh, here's Jimmy Sexton's come off the plane. It's actually like, he's actually.

[Chip Patterson]

I do have one bit of criticism. It is taunting the rest of the world, who is dealing with flight issues every single turn. Oh, they are so easily navigating the country.

[Tom Fornelli]

This is nice.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah.

[Danny Cannell]

That PJ Life.

[Chip Patterson]

I was thinking. I was just thinking about that, but I was like, well, that'd be disrespectful to flights. Send three of them in the air. We'll see. Yeah, that I would say. All right. Brandon Marcelo. Penn State and James Franklin recently negotiated the buyout down to 9 million. His contract called for a buyout of 49 million to be paid through 2031, which could be offset by future earnings at another job. So what does that mean?

[Danny Cannell]

So five years, 40 million at Virginia Tech.

[Tom Fornelli]

Well, but it means he got the 9 million up front, I would assume. Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

Okay.

[Tom Fornelli]

You don't negotiate this down unless it's a lump sum.

[Chip Patterson]

Okay, so just lump sum. Cash out.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

James Franklin, the cash out king. There you go.

[Tom Fornelli]

Pretty good deal for Penn State.

[Chip Patterson]

That's a very good deal for Penn State.

[Danny Cannell]

Saying, what if his Virginia tech deal is 40 million? Like, why did they choose nine when there was 49 owed?

[Tom Fornelli]

I will be curious on the length here. Like, vatech is the Virginia Tech is the first school to make a hire this year. And we have seen some chatter around among schools and people like, hey, like, do we really need to go with the length?

[Danny Cannell]

You know, four for 40.

[Tom Fornelli]

Like, rule got more years but not more money. Right. So it didn't actually increase the buyout, I guess. Do we know what Elko's terms are if they actually released the term sheet?

[Chip Patterson]

I haven't. I. I haven't been up on my. My contracts recently.

[Tom Fornelli]

I just like, if. If they do, like, the, you know, eight year, $72 million thing, fully guaranteed, it's like, have we learned nothing? Like, how many of these eight year deals anybody ever happy with?

[Chip Patterson]

Oh, I think it's going to be.

[Tom Fornelli]

I think they have to overpay.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah.

[Danny Cannell]

Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

Hey, and for Franklin, great decision.

[Tom Fornelli]

Oh, God. Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

So good job. A plus all the way around. We'll see how it goes.

[Danny Cannell]

We'll miss him@Big Ten Media Days.

[Chip Patterson]

We will.

[Tom Fornelli]

I wonder if he can also keep some of the guys on that staff.

[Chip Patterson]

Dude, what about the fact that and I've seen this be shared a bit. I need to fact check it myself so why not bring it to the COVID 3 podcast. The Penn State D commit list I think is one to watch too. When you think about the way that it's roster was built, a list of players from Penn State's recruiting class that have decommitted, I would say that James Franklin and Virginia Tech you have to consider a potential landing spot for some of those guys.

[Tom Fornelli]

Assuming and I'm assuming here, but assuming he keeps Andy Frank, the GM who he's had since he was at Vandy. Like does Andy go now?

[Chip Patterson]

I don't know.

[Danny Cannell]

Might.

[Tom Fornelli]

Or do you do the rest of the class at Penn State?

[Danny Cannell]

I would bet that not knowing him at all he would feel like it was his job to finish the class at Penn State and then leave. So another few weeks and then jump to Penn State.

[Tom Fornelli]

If you're the hokies, you want him like yesterday right?

[Chip Patterson]

We'll see Virginia Tech recruiting stock market up emoji the one thing on Penn.

[Tom Fornelli]

State is like this is a decent to good year in state for Pennsylvania but next year is a really good year. Like we are just based on the very early returns like the the juniors in the state of Pennsylvania right now are studs so that'll be important for the new coach to hit the ground running.

[Chip Patterson]

Good stuff all keeping an eye on it. We are going to be with you next Tuesday night said about 8:45. You know hopefully given the events at Madison Square Garden Champions Classic that is in between the games is when they're going to announce the new college Football playoff rankings. We'll go live here YouTube.com cover 3 around 8:45 if they haven't gotten to it yet and we're just exchanging free throws in the game we'll just take listener questions. Is that cool Tom? Does that sound good with you?

[Danny Cannell]

I'm too filled with rage that college football would dare take a back seat to basketball. That just shows you how important these rankings are. They're not more important than basketball.

[Chip Patterson]

Come and hang out with Tom who will not at all be cranky. So and as we as we react live to the new college football playoff rankings 8:45pm Eastern Time. Then on Wednesday we'll be back Big game breakdown. Biggest matchups from the weekend slate Thursday for locks and then back at it with another instant reaction on Saturday. Saturday and you can follow him on Twitter at time Friedel you can follow him@bud elliot3. You follow me at Chip Underscore Patterson. Gentlemen, thank you very much.

[Tom Fornelli]

Now streaming.

[Danny Cannell]

Everyone who comes into this clinic is a mystery.

[Tom Fornelli]

We don't know what we're looking for.

[Danny Cannell]

Their bodies are the scene of the crime. Their symptoms and history are clues.

[Chip Patterson]

You saved her life.

[Tom Fornelli]

With doctors and with detectives.

[Danny Cannell]

I kind of love it, if I'm being honest. Solve the puzzle, save the patient.

[Tom Fornelli]

Watson. All episodes now streaming on Paramount plus.