Penn State head coach James Franklin is speaking up again, and this time, he's calling for uniformity across college football.
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With conferences like the Big Ten and Big 12 playing nine conference games, and others like the SEC and ACC sticking with eight, Franklin says the lack of consistency is a problem.
"I think it should be consistent across college football," Franklin said, offering a bold perspective just before his team's Orange Bowl matchup with Notre Dame. "When every decision is based on finances, then we're not making great decisions for the student-athlete or the game itself."
Franklin, who previously stirred the pot with his suggestion that former Alabama coach Nick Saban should take over as commissioner of college football (a job that doesn't technically exist), didn't back down from that stance.
While his call for a college football commissioner might still be a bit far-fetched for some, Franklin is adamant about the need for uniformity across the sport. "Everybody should be in a conference, everybody should play a conference championship game or no one should," Franklin said. "We just need to make things consistent."
It's a point that resonates in the current landscape of college football, which is constantly shifting with the expansion of the playoff, NIL deals, and a growing number of games for teams making deep runs.
The college football season now stretches longer than ever, with teams in the CFP title game playing as many as 16 or 17 games, adding even more pressure on players and coaching staffs.
Franklin isn't the only one thinking about a potential commissioner. Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin has backed the idea, especially when it comes to someone like Saban overseeing the game.
"I can't imagine there being a better person who genuinely has the best interests of the game and the kids," Kiffin said. That sentiment reflects the growing desire among some coaches for a unified voice in a sport that is increasingly fragmented.
But as Franklin pointed out, there's more to it than just naming a commissioner. "You have to give the guy power," said Duke coach Manny Diaz.
"Right now, the power is with the leagues." Diaz hit the nail on the head - without true authority, any potential commissioner's role is largely symbolic. And that's something Franklin, along with other coaches, wants to see change.
While he may not have all the answers, Franklin has certainly put a spotlight on some of the tough questions facing college football in what is clearly a transformative time.
"There's a ton of things that need to be discussed and looked at," he said, advocating for those conversations to take place without outside pressures from universities or conferences.
In the ever-evolving world of college football, one thing is certain: change is coming, and Franklin believes it needs to be done with consistency in mind.
