Elko Dismisses Penn State Rumors Amid Buyout Hurdles

Texas A&M coach Mike Elko emphatically brushed off speculation that he might replace fired Penn State coach James Franklin at a Monday press conference, calling media coverage “absolutely hilarious” and “a waste of brain space” and saying he does not discuss such speculation with his players. Elko, a South Brunswick, N.J., native who played at Penn and served as a defensive coordinator at multiple programs before a stint as Duke’s head coach, has led No. 3 Texas A&M to a 7–0 start, a success he said likely fuels the rumors. Reporters have also linked other names such as Nebraska’s Matt Rhule (and previously Manny Diaz) to the Penn State opening, but multiple outlets note financial and contractual hurdles — including Franklin’s roughly $50 million buyout and Elko’s multi-year A&M contract with its own buyout provisions — that complicate any move. While Elko stopped short of an explicit denial, he stressed job-security questions would be different if the Aggies weren’t winning and said his focus remains on the SEC race and College Football Playoff hopes.