Part one, the first five. Now part two…
LSU and Lane Kiffin. The current Ole Miss coach has his choice of two very attractive gigs. Given the competition within the state of Florida (Miami, Florida State, UCF and South Florida) the LSU gig (provided the Governor and his friends get the heck out of the way) is the better option. NIL won’t be a problem, and neither will access to the fertile recruiting base.
Oklahoma State and Zac Robinson would be a great fit if OSU can make the money work (and there’s still the issue with Mike Gundy’s buy out. Where is T. Boone Pickens when you need him?) Robinson is doing a solid job as the OC with the Atlanta Falcons, and maybe he wants to stay in the NFL, but a chance to be the head guy at your alma mater could be too much to pass on.
A Reunion in Corvallis?
Oregon State and Jonathan Smith, currently on the hot seat as the HC at Michigan State. Smith left Corvallis to take the job that Mel Tucker made a mess of in East Lansing. Smith left because he was worried about the demise of the Pac 12, but he underestimated the resolve of his former employer (and rival Washington State) to keep the Pac 12 brand alive. Next year when it expands the new Pac will include Boise State and San Diego State. Suddenly the new Pac 12 (and Smith was more successful with the Beavers than he has been in the Big 10) looks pretty inviting. It would be a good reunion.
Penn State and Joe Brady, current Offensive Coordinator with the Buffalo Bills. This is another situation where a big name is required. Brady’s success at LSU, especially in developing receivers and quarterbacks, is noteworthy, as is his work in the NFL. His name would carry weight on the recruiting trail. It will need to. Brady is another guy with no NIL experience, so that would need to be overcome. Note, all bets are off if Kalen DeBoer would actually leave Alabama for Penn State…
And on the West Coast…
Stanford and Pep Hamilton, currently the OC at Maryland. Hamilton worked with NFL-star-turned-Stanford football GM Andrew Luck while Hamilton was an assistant for the Cardinal more than a decade ago. Well versed in offensive football (again…that’s what sells tickets) Hamilton would need help recruiting but there are deep pockets in Silicon Valley and just like the Arkansas job, a roster could be bought for the right veteran coach.
UCLA and Tony White, current Florida State Defensive Coordinator. White has some Power Four and Big Ten experience, including a successful stint at Nebraska. He’s got west coast roots and should be able to compete with USC on the recruiting trail…which doesn’t even have to take him out of his own state.
This would mean that Kenny Dillingham, P J Fleck and Jedd Fisch all stay put…until there are openings at Ole Miss and Michigan State at least. There could then be openings at Arizona State, Minnesota, South Carolina and Washington too. And even more if any current college coaches jump to the NFL. Stay tuned.
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