(James Franklin) The story behind this trend in Social Media today
03-10-2026
I’ll look up what’s driving the James Franklin discussion on social media today.The posts point to a Friday night game, so I’m checking the result and why people are reacting.The social media chatter about James Franklin tonight comes from Virginia Tech’s Friday night loss to Pitt.Franklin spent 12 seasons as Penn State’s head coach. The school fired him in October 2025 after a highly anticipated season collapsed, then negotiated his buyout down to about $9 million once he took another job. Virginia Tech hired him in November 2025 on a five-year deal worth at least $41.75 million. He brought a large group of former Penn State players with him through the transfer portal.In his first season in Blacksburg the Hokies opened 4-0, their best start in years, and looked like a team that could contend in the ACC. On Friday night, October 2, 2026, they hosted undefeated Pitt at Lane Stadium. Virginia Tech led 14-0 early and 24-14 in the second quarter. Pitt’s starting quarterback left with an injury; the backup came in and the Panthers took control. Pitt forced four turnovers and went ahead 35-24 in the fourth quarter. Virginia Tech closed to 35-33 on a safety and a touchdown, then lined up for a 36-yard field goal as time expired. The kick went wide left. Pitt won 35-33 and moved to 5-0; Virginia Tech fell to 4-1.That finish is what set off the posts. “James Franklined” is a long-running jab at Franklin’s reputation, earned at Penn State, for strong regular-season teams that lost close games or fell short in the biggest spots. Critics treated the missed kick and the blown lead as the same pattern arriving in year one at Virginia Tech. Others argued the Hokies were robbed by a questionable call earlier in the game and that the result does not erase the 4-0 start. The same night, his former team, Penn State, was also playing, which kept the old-coach comparisons circulating.