1. James Franklin, Penn State head coach
This is it. This is the guy. This is the head coach who would fit just about everything USC could ask for and want.
Has he dealt with tough situations before and succeeded? You think?
The guy took Vanderbilt – Vanderbilt – to a bowl game going 24-15 in his three years.
At … Vanderbilt.
He stepped into a brutal situation at Penn State, dealing with a program on a bowl ban and a discussion or two away from possible being put on some type of probation that could’ve gutted the program, if not make it go dark for a while. Three years later it was in the Rose Bowl.
There’s no issues with his recruiting chops, his teams play hard – the 2020 Nittany Lions could’ve easily gone in the tank, but it battle back after the worst start in the program’s history – and the guy has the personality to make LA his.
Of course, he’s already at a powerhouse program in the midst of a strong season, but after seven years in Happy Valley, this would be the right move.
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