James Franklin earns $6 million in 2026 at Virginia Tech on a five year, $41.75 million contract that is heavily back loaded, jumping to $12.75 million in 2029 and $13.25 million in 2030. Virginia Tech hired him in November 2025, five weeks after Penn State fired him following a 3 and 3 start. Penn State still owes him $9 million in a negotiated settlement, down from a buyout that was close to $50 million.
| 2026 pay | $6 million: a $500,000 base plus $5.5 million in supplemental pay |
| Total value | $41.75 million, about $50 million counting the Penn State settlement |
| If Virginia Tech fires him | Remaining base and supplemental salary, offset by pay from any new coaching job |
| If he leaves | $8 million before July 15, 2026, $6 million before Dec. 15, 2026, then $4 million, $2 million and $1 million |
| Bonuses | $75,000 for the ACC title game, $150,000 for winning it, up to $800,000 for a national title, and up to $800,000 a year tied to TV viewership |
| Staff money | $9.5 million for assistants and $6 million for support staff, nearly double his predecessor’s pool |
Year by Year Pay
| Season | Total pay |
|---|---|
| 2026 | $6 million |
| 2027 | $5 million |
| 2028 | $4 million |
| 2029 | $12.75 million |
| 2030 | $13.25 million |
Contract terms are from the term sheet Virginia Tech released, as reported by WSLS and FootballScoop. The full national list is on our college football coaching salaries page.
Why It Is Back Loaded
Franklin’s 2021 Penn State extension had a duty to mitigate clause, so his new salary would have reduced what Penn State owed him. The two sides settled at $9 million, and Virginia Tech kept his pay low for the years that settlement covers, then jumped it to $12.75 million and $13.25 million at the end. As one source put it, he is not getting a penny less than he would have at Penn State, and the structure freed Virginia Tech to spend more on assistants.
The Bottom Line
James Franklin makes $6 million from Virginia Tech in 2026, plus his Penn State settlement, on a fully guaranteed five year, $41.75 million deal that rises to $13.25 million in 2030. Penn State replaced him with Matt Campbell. Follow the Hokies on the Virginia Tech football schedule and Virginia Tech score today.