Franklin, Penn State agree to deal
Penn State football coach James Franklin agreed to a new 10-year contract Tuesday that will guarantee him at least $75 million through 2031.
Franklin and Penn State’s Board of Trustees agreed to the terms, which include a yearly base salary of $7 million, retention bonuses of $500,000 each year and a $1-million annual loan for life insurance.
Franklin is 67-32 at Penn State with seven bowl appearances in eight seasons. The Nittany Lions won the Big Ten title in 2016.
A Pennsylvania native who called the gig his “dream job” when he was hired away from Vanderbilt in 2014 will coach his 100th game at Penn State when the Nittany Lions visit No. 12 Michigan State on Saturday.
Franklin had been asked multiple times this season about his name surfacing as a candidate for other jobs, notably Louisiana State and USC, and he never outright shot them down. This contract makes leaving Happy Valley a much more expensive proposition.
Cincinnati moved into position to make the College Football Playoff, climbing a spot to fourth behind Georgia, Ohio State and Alabama.
USC will stick with freshman Jaxson Dart at quarterback against No. 13 Brigham Young on Saturday at the Coliseum.