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Big Ten Football: 3 most overpaid head coaches ahead of 2022

By Connor Muldowney

Oct 2, 2021; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Tom Allen (right) shakes hands with Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin (left) after a game at Beaver Stadium. Penn State won 24-0. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2021; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Tom Allen (right) shakes hands with Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin (left) after a game at Beaver Stadium. Penn State won 24-0. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 28, 2019; Arlington, Texas, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin reacts to a touchdown in the game against the Memphis Tigers at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2019; Arlington, Texas, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin reacts to a touchdown in the game against the Memphis Tigers at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

2. James Franklin, Penn State ($7 million)

Penn State fans had been cooling on James Franklin a little over the past couple of seasons, and it was honestly warranted. He struggled mightily during the 2020 season before finishing strong and went just 7-6 during the 2021 season. He’s just 11-11 and 8-10 in conference play over the past two years.

So when Franklin was rumored to be drawing interest from LSU and USC, some fans were at peace with it, especially since he didn’t exactly shoot down the rumors.

But Franklin used these rumors to leverage a better contract and he actually earned an extension with the Nittany Lions which will pay him $7 million per year. A coach who’s trending in the wrong direction just got a raise and an extension, making him the 12th-highest-paid coach in the country and second-highest-paid in the Big Ten.

Sure, Franklin recruits well and has won a Big Ten title during his tenure in Happy Valley, but with all that talent, he should have more 10-plus win seasons than seven-win seasons — he has three of each.

Franklin has a lot to prove in 2022.

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