Penn State is looking at major names in its search to replace fired football coach James Franklin.
One of those names is Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, according to On3.
The website reports Penn State is going to “take a couple of big swings” after firing Franklin six games into the 2025 season following their third straight loss.
Ohio State’s Ryan Day and Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer “are not serious candidates,” the report added.
Freeman, 39, is in his fourth season as Notre Dame’s coach and led the Fighting Irish to the College Football Playoff national championship game last season, where they lost to his alma mater, Ohio State.
He was officially promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach late in 2021 after Brian Kelly took the LSU job. The team went 9-4 in Freeman’s first season and 10-3 in 2023 before finishing 14-2 last season.
The Irish, currently 4-2, began the season ranked No. 6 and are now No. 13. They dropped their first two games to Miami and Texas A&M but have reeled off four straight wins against Purdue, Arkansas, Boise State and NC State. They face a big test on Saturday against rival USC.
Franklin was in his 12th season with the Nittany Lions, who fell to Notre Dame in the CFP semifinals last season.
Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft made it sound like the program will spare no expense in its quest to win.
“Football is our backbone. We’ve invested at the highest level. With that comes high expectations,” Kraft said Monday. “Ultimately, I believe a new leader can help us win a national championship, and now is the right time for this change.
“Our next coach needs to be able to maximize elite-level resources, attack the transfer portal and develop at the highest level,” Kraft added.
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