James Franklin worked wonders during his three years at Vanderbilt, establishing a winning culture at an SEC program used to being a doormat. And Penn State’s second-year head coach guided the Lions to a 7-6 record in Year One, overcoming issues along the offensive line and at wide receiver. But 2015 and beyond will be a challenge for Franklin and his staff, considering the talent — and the coaching — in the Big Ten East. The division is home to three top-15 head coaches, according to the College Football 24/7 section of NFL.com. Penn State head coach James Franklin, shown here with assistants Brent Pry (left) and Herb Hand (right), will match wits with three of college football’s top coaching staffs this fall — Ohio, Michigan State and Michigan. Joe Hermitt, PennLiveJoe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com You can guess who is at the top, Ohio State’s Urban Meyer, who produced a national championship season while using the Buckeyes’ No. 3 quarterback, Cardale Jones, down the stretch. Meyer and Ohio State beat Penn State 31-24 in double overtime last year at Beaver Stadium. The Lions visit the Buckeyes on Oct. 17 this fall. Penn State must also deal with a road date against Mark Dantonio’s Michigan State team on Nov. 28. The Spartans, who won a wild game against Baylor in the Cotton Bowl, are a potential top-five team this year and Dantonio is ranked No. 5 on the College Football 24/7 list. Michigan State beat Penn State 34-10 at Beaver Stadium last fall. And a new Big Ten East face checks in at No. 7 — Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh. The Wolverines’ program is in need of a rebuild and turned to Harbaugh, the former San Francisco 49ers’ head coach and a Michigan man, to replace Brady Hoke. …
Continue Reading: Penn State, James Franklin matching wits with three of the nation’s top staffs in Big Ten East
