What a college football season thus far. No one can argue that parity has created incredible competition, and there are absolutely NO off weeks. What does this do? It causes coaches to get fired. Fan bases and (especially) boosters have absolutely zero patience, and the natural reaction from fanatical fan base and boosters who think pouring money into a program garners some sort of influence is to FIRE THE COACH. Which is so stupid. But entertaining.
There are some SERIOUS jobs available right now. And it will be fun to watch the carousel turn.
LSU Tigers
When the Tigers of Baton Rouge parted ways with Brian Kelly after a disappointing 2025 stretch, the slate was wiped clean at one of college football’s richest programs. With a deep recruiting base in Louisiana, millions in donor support, and championship history dating back to National Championship runs under Nick Saban and Ed Orgeron, LSU remains a gold standard job—but also one that demands elite hire after elite hire. The next coach must not just win, but dominate the SEC and rebuild trust with a fan base accustomed to national-title contention. I guess that Lane ultimately takes this job, probably announced after there is no way Ole Miss makes the playoffs. Given what he’s done at Ole Miss, he’s a good candidate for LSU, and Lane wants to coach at a program with a national presence. This seems like a good fit.
Florida Gators
In Gainesville, the Gators made their move mid-season when they relieved Billy Napier of his duties. Florida still boasts one of the deepest in-state high-school pipelines, top-tier facilities, and a legacy steeped in national-championship hopes. The challenge for the next leader? Marry that potential with sustained execution, and restore the swagger of Gator Nation while navigating the NIL era and a brutal SEC East rotation. They’ll probably land Jim Sumrall from Tulane after making a run at Lane.
Auburn Tigers
Auburn finds itself at a crossroads after the dismissal of Hugh Freeze amid under-performance in the stadium shadow of Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan and the looming Clemson-style models in the SEC. The Plains still offers passionate boosters, a historic program structure, and a strong recruitment region—but expectations are high and patience is thin. The next coach must turn promise into wins, particularly in the squeezed-and-ferocious SEC West. I HIGHLY recommend that they hire UGA OC Mike Bobo. I think he’d do GREAT over there.
Penn State Nittany Lions
Up in State College, the Nittany Lions ended James Franklin’s tenure after a string of losses and the reputation of falling short in big games, despite prior playoff runs. Pennsylvania is actually a great football state with deep high-school roots, strong institutional investment, and pristine facilities—but the challenge is to break through the Big Ten’s top tier and turn perennial contender status into regular title contention. The next hire must be bold, shrewd in the transfer portal, and wired for championships. I’m not sure that person exists – at least one that will take a job at Penn State. They’ll end up hiring some coach from a small school and drift into obscurity for a couple of years.
Ole Miss Rebels (I’d put this job ahead of Auburn)
I guess that Lane will take either the LSU or Florida job, whichever pays more. I think it’ll be LSU. When that happens, LSU will be on the outside looking in, and be forced to go poach (and overpay) an SEC OC.
Honorable Mention: Clemson
It’s hard to see Dabo making it through the season, but if the Clemson administration is smart, they’ll give him another year or two. In all honesty, one bad year during Dabo’s tenure is an anomaly, not the norm. Not to mention if they did fire him, they are competing with heavy-duty SEC openings…which are all more attractive than Clemson.
What do you think? Who lands where?
If anyone is getting Lane, it will be Florida. Money won’t be an issue, and we are clamoring for someone that can channel Spurrier’s swagger. Lane is the only option that is palatable to Gator fans right now.
LSU’s situation is a mess with the meddling Governor and the new AD who, let’s just say, has some ethics issues in his past. I see them getting Sumrall or someone similar.
I think Franklin and Drinkwitz are going to switch places.
I’d also out for Lincoln Riley and one of these SEC jobs, or possibly Clemson if they fire Dabo. I don’t see them firing Dabo, but I could see him hanging it up.
It’s a coin flip between Lane staying and leaving. UF is in a better, but not great, place with Strickland’s future being in limbo.
Auburn will make another bad hire between AD Cohen and the shadow AD (Yella Fella). Outside of some great high school recruiting the Freeze era was terribly embarrassing. No different than Harsin except he was from the south and had a cameo in the Blind Side.
I don’t see Clamp firing Dabo either but no way they would bring in Lincoln with how bad Garrett Riley’s offenses have been the last 2+ years.
No mention of Arkansas. Maybe they get the home team back together with Freeze and Malzahn if they don’t stick with Bobby P.
Sadly I’m leaning towards my Noles not making a change at HC. Sounds like Gus will leave (on his own terms) regardless. Too bad because the offense has been much improved. Yet another year of Transfer Portal Roulette…
Somebody please hire Tech OC Buster Faulkner before Thanksgiving.