Saquon Barkley is happy for James Franklin. But make no mistake, the Penn State legend and Philadelphia Eagles running back won’t be rooting for Franklin if Virginia Tech ever plays the Nittany Lions.

As the 2026 recruiting cycle reaches the stretch run, Georgia, LSU, Maryland, Oklahoma, Texas and a reenergized, James Franklin-led Virginia Tech are among the major programs looking to dazzle top recruits in Week 13, only 12 days from the 2026 early signing period (Dec. 3-5).