When we were kids, we would go to the county fair full of wonder and excitement – trying to figure out which ride we would try first.
The Kamikaze or the Gravitron for the more adventurous, the Ferris wheel or bumper cars for those who might not want to re-experience their recently wolfed-down corn dog or fried Oreos. No matter what, there were rides for everyone – it all came down to your level of tolerance and your available tickets that got handed to the greasy carny.
The vaunted college football coaching carousel is much like that collection of rides, with risk and financial viability among the central components for who gets a ride moving forward. Here in the SEC alone, a full quarter of the total teams – 4 of 16 – currently have coaching openings… and we are barely into November.
Which one is the best? And which one isn’t for the faint of heart? Behold, here is a handy primer and rankings to help ease your transaction anxiety from “buying a car” to “choosing peanut butter at the store”:
1. LSU Tigers
Why this job rocks: The LSU Tigers want to win so bad and have the kind of financial wherewithal to make it happen that they ditched a winning coach and an established athletic director all within 72 hours to facilitate. LSU is also rich, rich, rich in home-grown talent. Like, filthy rich. Prime 4- and 5-stars practically grow on trees in Louisiana – and they all grow up wanting to wear purple and yellow.
Buyer beware: LSU, with Gov. Jeff Landry at the helm, has redefined dysfunction in the transition away from Brian Kelly at such a grand scale that it actually generated late-night punchlines. The university is also without a president at the moment, a staggering leadership void that would cause any coach worth his buyout clause to think twice.
Leader in the clubhouse: You’d think that current Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin would want to be at a place where the ceiling is national championships instead of just making the College Football Playoff. But who really knows what way Kiffin is leaning from one week to the next. If not Kiffin, LSU might stay in-state with Tulane boss Jon Sumrall.
2. Florida Gators
Why this job rocks: Like LSU, the amount of future NFL talent that calls the Sunshine State home is nuts – and the percentage that has funneled through Gainesville in recent years is formidable. Bull Gators, the uber-boosters at Florida, are also tremendously generous people when potential impediments to victory present themselves. Translation: Dropping millions on NIL won’t be an issue if it means SEC titles and CFP tickets.
Buyer beware: The last couple coaches Florida has cycled through have slightly tarnished the shine applied by Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer. Dan Mullen wasn’t all that bad in retrospect, though he was a bit of a fish out of water. And Billy Napier tested the outer limits of said boosters’ patience. Athletic director Scott Stricklin’s job is probably on the line with this hire, which is good and bad we suppose. And don’t discount the unintended detriment that Spurrier inhabiting an office in the football building does against the “time to move forward” crowd.
Leader in the clubhouse: This is actually where Kiffin would be a better fit, if he leaves Oxford at all. Gainesville is a lot less stuffy and political than Baton Rouge, and Kiffin has already seen success in the state at Florida Atlantic. If not him, then perhaps Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz would leap at the upgrade from CoMo or fired Penn State coach James Franklin could be resurrected.
3. Arkansas Razorbacks
Why this job rocks: Of the 16 jobs in the SEC, there are at least 12 that come attached with absolutely bonkers passionate fanbases. The Arkansas Razorbacks have that and have shown it anytime they are remotely competitive in the conference, and Hog Nation is just aching for a return to relevance after the Sam Pittman Era came and went. Not to mention that Wal-Mart Legacy Money means Arkansas has the ability to construct an NIL-fueled roster that can compete with the biggest of big boys.
Buyer beware: Just because that legacy dough exists doesn’t mean the new Razorbacks coach is gifted with a bottomless checkbook moments after his introductory press conference. The new hire must be charismatic and uplifting and selling the kind of revolution that Arkansas hasn’t had since the days of the right Rev. Houston Dale Nutt Jr. Plus, the word is out on Arkansas high school talent – with healthy poaching going on from the east (Ole Miss and Alabama), west (Texas and Oklahoma) and south (LSU).
Leader in the clubhouse: This has Group of 5 written all over it, which is certainly not a negative factor. We personally love the job USF coach Alex Golesh has done with precious little in Tampa, though Arkansas could also shine with Mike Leach disciple Eric Morris from North Texas or Ryan Silverfield from Memphis.
4. Auburn Tigers
Why this job rocks: Legacy matters, and while the Tigers recently more than quadrupled their national-title count from 2 to 9, that is still a significant figure. The Tigers also have managed to consistently churn out NFL-ready players through the barrage of coaching changes in recent years – because just recruiting well within state lines offers that much talent.
Buyer beware: Hugh Freeze? Didn’t last 3 full seasons. Bryan Harsin? Didn’t last 2 full seasons. Gus Malzahn took Auburn to a national title game and was fired. Gene Chizik won a national title and was canned 2 years later. Translation: the Tigers mow through coaches with alarming regularity. There is also the Little Brother Factor, which manifests itself year after year with Alabama crushing it over the past 20 years.
Leader in the clubhouse: Incredible as it may sound, this could be the perfect landing spot for another coaching retread – former Florida State and Texas A&M boss Jimbo Fisher. He certainly checks all the boxes, and Auburn could do a heckuva lot worse (see Harsin and Freeze). If not Fisher, Franklin is still casting about looking for his next opportunity and Drinkwitz might be a darkhorse pick.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
