Penn State pulled the plug on James Franklin back on October 12, and somehow the biggest blue-blood on the carousel is still riding around with an empty saddle. Franklin already jumped to his next gig, but the Nittany Lions? Still dialing, still waiting, still swinging.

And with BYU’s Kalani Sitake choosing to stay put in Provo, after Indiana locked down Curt Cignetti, and Nebraska secured Matt Rhule. Bob Chesney bolted to UCLA, and half the coaching board got snatched up. It’s officially panic-button time in Happy Valley. Skipping a recruiting cycle is like punting on 4th-and-inches at midfield, and yet Penn State walked into early signing day with one 2026 commit. One. Because no one knows who’s driving the ship.

People across the sport are raising their eyebrows, too. Chris Fowler hop

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