Penn State football head coach James Franklin has been named to the midseason watchlist for the Dodd Trophy, as announced by the award’s nominating committee Wednesday. Franklin wasn’t listed on the trophy’s original preseason watch list released in July, snapping a five-year streak.

The Dodd Trophy annually recognizes the best head coach in college football. With a win, Franklin would become the second Penn State coach to earn the distinction after Joe Paterno received it twice in 1981 and 2005, respectively.

Franklin’s squad went 5-1 through its first six games, as a 41-17 blowout road loss to Michigan snapped Penn State’s five-game win streak.

In November 2021, Franklin signed a contract extension that will keep him at Penn State until 2031 with a yearly salary of $7 million.

Franklin was joined by 19 other coaches on the list, including three Big Ten coaches — Ryan Day (Ohio State), Jim Harbaugh (Michigan), and Bret Bielema (Illinois). Big Ten coaches Mel Tucker (Michigan State), Kirk Ferentz (Iowa), and Paul Chryst (Wisconsin) were named to the preseason watch list but didn’t make the midseason cut.

The voting panel will announce the award’s finalists at the end of the season, according to a release from the committee. The winner will be announced at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta.

Franklin and the Nittany Lions next play in the 2022 White Out game when Penn State hosts Minnesota at Beaver Stadium. The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 22, with television coverage on ABC.