The wildest college football season in recent memory for coaching vacancies added another unexpected exit on Friday after Mizzou coach Gary Pinkel revealed this season would be his last due to health reasons.

Diagnosed with a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancer of the blood in May, Pinkel said he would wait until his team’s bye week in October to further evaluate his situation.

He decided before Halloween this was it:

Pinkel, now in his 15th season, said he’ll work through Dec. 31 or until the Tigers find their next head coach.

Who might that be?

The hot list could look much like another Top 25 gig among SEC fans. South Carolina’s in the middle of its own search, but got a head start on its division rival.

Sources have told Saturday Down South that Houston coach Tom Herman is the front-runner and there’s mutual interest. South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner hasn’t spoken publicly about the Gamecocks’ search, but sources say the program’s announcement of hire could come as soon as the first week of December.

As for Mizzou, finding someone who can continue the foundation for winning molded by Pinkel is paramount to program success. The school’s all-time winningest coach had a reputation for running a tight ship and getting the most out of his players as a master developer of talent.

Rarely were the Tigers’ signing classes considered Top 25-caliber, but the noticeable on-field results bucked star ratings. Mizzou managed a double-digit win total only once prior to Pinkel’s arrival, but has done it five times since 2007.

Perhaps Pinkel could assist with shaping the pool of candidates which has probably already been initiated, though based on what he has said, he’s ready to take football completely out of the equation while he fights a much different opponent.

Pinkel is Mizzou Football and his replacement must make sense as a long-term option for Missouri Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades.

Listed in no particular order, these guys seem like ideal fits on paper:

Potential head coach candidates for Mizzou

Barry Odom, Mizzou defensive coordinator — This guy is the Tigers’ first interview, right? Odom knows the culture, has said repeatedly that he wants to be a head coach and understands the challenges Mizzou must face with a new administration following this week’s well-publicized turmoil.

Justin Fuente, Memphis head coach — Fuente would be a home-run if he’s interested ahead of some of the same-tier jobs (Maryland, Miami, Virginia Tech) and you have to think he would be considering this program’s only one year removed from consecutive SEC Championship Game berths and the division’s in a spiral. At Mizzou, Fuente may get a 2-year grace period so to speak and wouldn’t face nearly as much instant pressure as he would at a program like Miami (by comparison).

Gene Chizik, North Carolina defensive coordinator — Heading into Saturday’s game against Miami, the Tar Heels were ranked 54th in the country in total defense at 377.4 yards per game, more than 100 yards better than last season’s abysmal effort. We know Chizik would be interested in resurrecting his career as a head coach elsewhere and a return to the SEC would be ideal. Canned at Auburn in 2012 only two years removed from a national championship, Chizik would be a risk.

Jeff Brohm, Western Kentucky head coach — The former quarterback and assistant coach at Louisville hopped around offensive staffs at Florida Atlantic, Illinois and UAB before inheriting the Hilltoppers’ top position in 2014 after spending one year as Western Kentucky’s play-caller. Brohm has helped develop Brandon Doughty into one of college football’s top passers and his offensive scheme would be a nice change in Columbia, Mo., if he could acquire the athletes to run it. Drew Lock would work harmoniously with any of the three offensive-minded coaches in this list, but especially Brohm.

Doc Holliday, Marshall head coach — Likely the biggest wild-card choice in this handful of candidates, Holliday’s five years younger than Pinkel (58) with an established track record — he’s 48-27 at Marshall and a solid recruiter considering his situation. Holliday’s coached in the SEC East before, spending three seasons as Florida’s associate head coach and recruiting coordinator under Urban Meyer from 2005-07.