Accolades for James Franklin have poured in since the Big Ten championship win, and the Penn State coach is a finalist for two more.
Franklin is one of three finalists for the Associated Press National Coach of the Year honor as well as the one of nine finalists for the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award. The AP will announce the winner Thursday while the Bear Bryant Award comes Jan. 11. Franklin was previously a finalist for the Bear Bryant Award in 2012 while at Vanderbilt, losing to former Penn State coach Bill O'Brien.
The third-year coach is also a finalist for the 2016 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award as presented by the Football Writers Association of America.