Penn State has offered Vanderbilt’s James Franklin the head coaching position and he is expected to accept it, according to a report from CBS’s Bruce Feldman.

I’m reporting that PSU has offered HC position to James Franklin. He’s expected to decide Thursday.

BREAKING #Vandy coach James Franklin is expected to be the next head coach at #PennState, per source

— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) January 9, 2014

“There are still many details to be sorted out on both sides within the next 48 hours,” he added.

ESPN’s Brett McMurphy soon followed.

Vandy’s James Franklin expected to accept offer from Penn State today, source told @ESPN. Also reported by @BFeldmanCBS

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) January 9, 2014

ESPN’s Joe Schad added that he expects the deal to be finalized tomorrow with a press conference on Friday.

“James Franklin believes that he can win a National Championship at Penn State,” Schad said. “Something that isn’t really possible at Vanderbilt at this time.”

Franklin, in his three years as Vanderbilt’s head coach, brought the SEC bottom-feeder Commodores from back-to-back two-win seasons to three of program’s six bowl appearances, ever. He also led Vandy to its first winning seasons since 1982 — following a 6-7 finish in his rookie season, Franklin’s Commodores posted 9-4 records in both 2012 and 2013. He ends his tenure at Vanderbilt with a 24-15 overall head coaching record and an 11-13 record in SEC.

Franklin was chosen over other candidates like alumnus Mike Munchak, the University of Miami’s Al Golden, the San Francisco 49ers’ Greg Roman, and current interim coach Larry Johnson Sr.

Official word from Penn State is expected soon, so stay tuned for updates.

Update: Mike Dawson from the Centre Daily Times is reporting that the contract of the next coach will be finalized on Saturday during a 9 a.m. Board of Trustees compensation committee conference call — although his source wouldn’t divulge the specific coach.

About the Author

Zach Berger

Zach Berger is a StateCollege.com reporter and Onward State's Managing Editor Emeritus. You can find him at the Phyrst more nights than not. If he had to pick a last meal, Zach would go for a medium-rare New York strip steak with a side of garlic mashed potatoes and a cold BrewDog Punk IPA. You can reach him via e-mail at zach@onwardstate.com or on Twitter at @theZachBerger.

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