James Franklin Left off Joel Klatt and Josh Pate's Top 10 Coaches

Joel Klatt and Josh Pate recently unveiled their top 10 head coach rankings in college football. Surprisingly, Virginia Tech’s James Franklin was not on either list. The omission puts the spotlight back on how the veteran coach is perceived nationally as he starts over in Blacksburg.

Klatt's rankings featured a mix of national champions, rising stars and program builders. His top 10:

1. Curt Cignetti - Indiana

3. Kirby Smart - Georgia

4. Dan Lanning - Oregon

5. Marcus Freeman - Notre Dame

6. Steve Sarkisian - Texas

7. Kyle Whittingham - Michigan

8. Kalani Sitaki - BYU

9. Mario Cristobal - Miami

10. Lane Kiffin - LSU

Pate's list looked similar, with similar overlap at the top.

1. Ryan Day - Ohio State

2. Kirby Smart - Georgia

3. Curt Cignetti - Indiana

4. Dan Lanning - Oregon

5. Marcus Freeman - Notre Dame

6. Lane Kiffin - LSU

7. Kalen DeBoer - Alabama

8. Steve Sarkisian - Texas

9. Mario Cristobal - Miami

10. Mike Elko - Texas A&M

Franklin's absence from both lists is notable given his experience and track record at the Power Four level. Before arriving at Virginia Tech in late 2025, Franklin spent more than a decade at Penn State, where he had a record of 88-39 as the head whistle-blower of the Nittany Lions. He also has one Big Ten championship and led the program to multiple New Year's Six bowl appearances.

Now at Virginia Tech, Franklin takes over a program looking for stability and a return to prominence in the ACC. The Hokies struggled in 2025 before hiring Franklin to reestablish the program. His arrival brought immediate national attention, a significant financial commitment from the university and renewed expectations in Blacksburg.

So why is he still outside the top 10 nationally?

Part of the answer lies in how analysts like Pate and Klatt define elite coaching. Many of the names on either list are either recent national champions, consistent College Football Playoff participants or coaches who have delivered breakthrough seasons that reshaped perception around their programs.

There is also the reality that Franklin has yet to coach a game at Virginia Tech. National rankings often reward recent results and current momentum. Until Franklin produces on-field success with the Hokies, pundits may hesitate to place him among the sport's elite.

Still, his resume suggests he belongs in the broader conversation. If he can elevate Virginia Tech into ACC contention or engineer a rapid turnaround, the perception could shift quickly.

For now, though, two of college football's most prominent voices have made their stance clear. As Franklin begins his new chapter, he does so outside college football's top 10 coaching circle, but with the opportunity to change that narrative.