Report: Virginia Tech in talks with Franklin about coaching vacancy

Former Penn State head coach James Franklin is engaged in early talks with Virginia Tech about the Hokies' coaching vacancy, sources told Pete Thamel of ESPN.

Virginia Tech continues to conduct a full search, but there's mutual interest between the two sides, sources told Thamel. A final decision on Franklin's candidacy, one way or another, is expected in the coming days.

The Hokies have been looking for a new coach since firing Brent Pry in September.

Franklin, meanwhile, has been available since he was relieved of his duties at Penn State on Oct. 12. His dismissal came after the Nittany Lions dropped their second consecutive home game - and third straight contest overall - with a 22-21 loss to Northwestern. A shocking defeat to UCLA earlier in the season was arguably the low point of Franklin's time at the helm; UCLA hadn't even held a lead at any point in the season prior to that game.

The 53-year-old Franklin joined Penn State in 2014, and won a Big Ten title in 2016 before making the College Football Playoff last season.

He left the program with a 104-45 record, but famously struggled against the nation's best teams. Penn State was 4-21 against top-10 opposition under Franklin.

Franklin was fired with six years remaining on his contract after signing a massive extension in 2021, and his buyout was reportedly more than $48 million.