“I’m still a big believer in transformational relationships and college football being transformational… I’m worried that college football is becoming more and more transactional.” James Franklin said. He has been doing this for a while now, with 12 seasons in Happy Valley. He is not afraid to play in that arena, and NIL does matter, but his pitch is based on trust. And guys in the locker room swear by it. “You can tell he means what he says,” tight end Joey Schlaffer said. He added, “You don’t ever really see that many guys transfer out of here,” referring to Franklin’s ability to maintain stability in the roster.

Yet, Franklin’s relationship-first strategy is set to undergo one of its most difficult in-state tests to date as the 2027 recruitment cycle heats up. This off-season, P

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