Despite Franklin’s background on the offensive side of the football, if you spend time talking to any fan of Penn State, they will quickly pivot the discussion towards their hope that the next version of the Nittany Lions has a better offensive philosophy.
Penn State coaching search reminds us that Kenny Dillingham is still a hot head-coaching commodity
James Franklin is out as Penn State head coach. Arizona State's Kenny Dillingham is a potential candidate if you ask some people.
Head coach Sonny Dykes of the TCU Horned Frogs talks with head coach Kenny Dillingham of the Arizona State Sun Devils before the game at Mountain America Stadium on September 26, 2025 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
James Franklin is out as Penn State head football coach after the Nittany Lions’ free-fall in the last three weeks.
Far away in the western outskirts of Big 12 land, Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham’s name is making a few blips on the radar screen.
Is he a favorite candidate at Penn State? Unlikely.
These aren’t reports indicating he’s a target or a candidate under PSU consideration — it’s still really early in the process — but it’s a reminder that Dillingham’s stock is still quite strong despite ASU this Saturday eating an ugly loss at Utah.
In other words, this will be a thing in Tempe as long as the Sun Devils remain involved in the Big 12 regular-season chase.
Short-lists of candidates from ESPN’S Adam Rittenberg, USA Today’s Paul Myerberg and Austin Curtright, and The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman do not list Dillingham among potential options.
Former PSU player and current Nebraska coach Matt Rhule is among the hottest names on potential candidate lists. Indiana’s Curt Cignetti is another intra-Big Ten option, while Iowa State’s Matt Campbell and Duke’s Manny Diaz are frequently mentioned potential candidates across the board.
But other writers, especially in Penn State country, are quite aware of ASU’s third-year leader.
Who names Kenny Dillingham as a potential candidate to replace Penn State coach James Franklin?
PennLive.com’s Johnny McGonigal:
How about the guy (Oregon OC Will) Stein took over for? Dillingham, like Stein, is one of the brightest offensive minds in college football. The 35-year-old has also had success as a head coach. In 2024, Dillingham’s second season with the Sun Devils, he led Arizona State to a Big 12 title, a CFP appearance and a near quarterfinal win over Texas.
That might make Kenny Dillingham their ideal candidate.
…
He might just be 35, but if Penn State is going for a splashy hire that also knows the offensive side of the ball, he might be the best candidate.
BlackShoeDiaries.com’s Patrick Koerbler:
Known for his high-energy and offensive acumen, Dillingham would certainly bring some flare to the program. Potential issues is that he doesn’t have any ties to the northeast, and he’s literally an Arizona State graduate. Would he leave his alma mater after three seasons?
Why was James Franklin fired, and why is the Penn State head-coaching job open?
The Nittany Lions began the preseason as the No. 2 team in The Associated Press poll and fell to No. 3 by Week 5 despite a 3-0 record.
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A reasonable and competitive overtime loss to then-No. 6 Oregon in Week 6 set off a chain reaction.
The Nittany Lions next fell against a winless UCLA squad that had already fired its head coach this season before a defeat to a 3-2 Northwestern squad — that came with star quarterback Drew Allar getting knocked out for the rest of the 2025 season — set the stage for Franklin’s ouster.
Now Penn State moves on to finding a replacement for Franklin.
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Comments
6 Comments
If ASU would ever lose Dilly, I don't think they'd ever recover. He's light-years above beyond any coach ASU has ever had in any sport. I hope the talk about his desire to coach ASU for the rest of forever, and ASU being his dream job are true.
"Short-lists of candidates from ESPN’S Adam Rittenberg, USA Today’s Paul Myerberg and Austin Curtright, and The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman do not list Dillingham among potential options....Potential issues is that Dillingham doesn’t have any ties to the northeast, and he’s literally an Arizona State graduate. Would he leave his alma mater after three seasons?"
Kinda negates the reason for even writing the story. Rhule no doubt has an "except for Penn State" out clause in his contract. Dillingham absolutely does not. Dillingham probably has none, not even the boiler plate Notre Dame out, since he's already with his alma mater.
You can't be serious with that comment. Guess you haven't heard of frank kush, Bobby winkles and Jim brock.