Penn State firing head coach James Franklin last weekend sent shockwaves across college football. Suddenly there’s a vacancy for one of the most prestigious programs in the nation.
FOX Sports’ Bruce Feldman mentioned a couple coaches that should receive attention from Penn State. Feldman is reporting that Texas A&M‘s Mike Elko and Nebraska’s Matt Rhule will be targeted by the Nittany Lions.
Regarding Elko, Feldman cites his success at Duke and now Texas A&M in addition to his regional ties to the area. However, Feldman believes a complication could be No. 4 Texas A&M’s status this season as a College Football Playoff contender.
“He is a Northeast guy from Jersey but timing could be tricky with the Aggies’ playoff expectations looming,” Feldman said.
The 48-year-old Elko was born in South Brunswick, New Jersey and graduated from the University of Penn. Elko played safety on Penn’s 1998 squad that won the Ivy League title.
Elko is in his second season at the helm of the Aggies. Texas A&M went 8-5 last season and reached the Las Vegas Bowl. This season, the Aggies are off to a 6-0 start as 1 of just 2 remaining undefeated SEC teams along with No. 5 Ole Miss heading into Week 8.
Texas A&M takes on host Arkansas on Saturday (5:30 p.m. ET/ESPN).
