Brian Kelly is no longer with LSU.
Following a significant loss to Texas A&M, which brought the Tigers’ season record to 5-3 and their SEC record to 2-3, LSU decided to let go of its struggling head coach. During his time in Baton Rouge, Kelly finished with an overall record of 34-10, but only 19-10 against SEC teams.
As LSU looks to fill the head coach position, several names are emerging as potential candidates.
Let’s start with some of the most notable ones.
Lane Kiffin recently achieved a standout victory during his tenure at Oxford when Mississippi faced Norman and upset the Sooners in a clash of top-15 teams. This win is vital for both teams aiming for a shot at the College Football Playoff, and Mississippi is currently in a good position with a 7-1 record.
Kiffin had already secured another job before this game (with an opening against Florida) and was compelled to talk to his team about these rumors before taking on Oklahoma. However, now that the LSU job is vacant, his considerations may have shifted.
Especially since there’s strong backing for such a transition within the SEC.
“Let me put this simply: LSU is a more attractive job than Florida. Florida’s status has diminished. I spoke with Tim Tebow about it recently, and honestly, most of our conversation centered on Florida’s past. LSU, on the other hand, has let go of four consecutive coaches,” Finebaum noted on a Sunday podcast. “It’s a different scenario at LSU. Yes, they fire coaches, but they usually do so for a reason, and they can afford to do it. It’s a completely different setting. Kiffin, while he has his quirks, may integrate better at LSU. Florida’s situation involves a mix of interests and politics, but if you win at LSU, you’re generally safe.”
Finebaum also discussed how the move to Baton Rouge could play out, pointing to Mississippi State’s impressive victory over Oklahoma State as an example.
“The win at Oklahoma is significant… I mean, it’s one of his best victories. Last year’s match against Georgia was probably more meaningful, yet he let that slip. (But Kiffin) is in a solid position. Right now, he’s in the playoff conversation. It’s all about how he navigates the rest of the season,” Finebaum stated.
“And… just to throw this out there, the talk about Lane Kiffin potentially heading to LSU is just as relevant, if not more so, than the Florida opening. That could be a relief for Ole Miss supporters. Plus, they’re currently in playoff contention, and with the portal window opening late this year, getting a couple of games in before that could prove beneficial.”
Matt Campbell, Iowa
Whenever a coaching vacancy arises, Matt Campbell seems to be on the list of potential candidates.
This was the case with James Franklin at Penn State, and now with Kelly’s dismissal at LSU. Campbell, after turning Toledo around, moved to Ames and elevated the Cyclones from a struggling team with an 8-28 record to a consistent Big 12 competitor.
There’s a good chance Campbell will seize a significant opportunity soon, and it feels like the right moment for him now.
Brent Key, having taken over at Georgia Tech in the middle of the 2022 season, has achieved back-to-back bowl seasons. At present, Georgia Tech is 8-0 and holds the No. 8 spot in the AP rankings, marking their best ranking since wrapping up the 2014 season in eighth place.
The Yellow Jackets are set to face Georgia soon, which is the only other ranked team left on their schedule, and they have already secured a spot in the ACC title game.
Considering his success in revitalizing the program, Key might attract interest. He also brings SEC experience, having been Alabama’s offensive line coach for three years when they won a national championship.
For some time, Joe Brady has been discussed as a future head coach.
While he hasn’t yet received that chance, a return to Baton Rouge might change that. Brady was the passing game coordinator for LSU when they won the national championship in 2019, overseeing a prolific offense led by Joe Burrow. Instead of remaining in college football, Brady transitioned to the NFL and currently serves as the offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills.
The question is whether LSU would consider giving the program to someone with no head coaching experience. While that might be a stretch, Brady certainly remains a candidate to watch.
John Sumrall is also attracting attention in the coaching landscape, having achieved a 38-10 record at Troy University and Tulane University. In his debut season at Troy, Sumrall led the Trojans to a 12-2 record, including a win against Mississippi State, and followed up with an 11-3 record the next season despite two losses in bowl games against Kansas State and Duke.
These past two years, he’s been with Tulane, where the Green Wave went 9-5 in his first year and are off to a solid 6-1 start this year.
His background also includes experience in the SEC, having coached linebackers at Mississippi State and his alma mater Kentucky, where he also spent a year as the co-defensive coordinator.
Eli Drinkwitz, who took over from Barry Odom before the 2020 season, has made improvements to the Tigers since arriving. The team finished the 2023 season with an 11-2 record, earning Drinkwitz SEC Coach of the Year recognition and putting him on track for his third consecutive season with ten or more wins.
During his time in Columbia, Drinkwitz accumulated 44 wins and 26 losses.
While he has brushed aside rumors about moving to a new job as mere “noise,” it’s likely that the opportunity in Baton Rouge could be tough to resist.
Rhett Lashley is enjoying a strong situation at SMU.
Still, he might find an even better opportunity at LSU.
With passionate supporters behind him in Dallas, Lashley has been instrumental in making the Mustangs competitive. After finishing with a 7-6 record in his first year, SMU followed that up with two consecutive 11-win seasons, even making the College Football Playoff last year.
Prior to his arrival, SMU only had one double-digit win season from 1984 to 2022.
