- LSU has fired head coach Brian Kelly after a disappointing fourth season.
- Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin is considered a top candidate to replace Kelly.
- Other potential replacements include Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz and USC’s Lincoln Riley.
LSU took big swings when its coaching job came open during the 2021 college football season with the firing of Ed Orgeron. There was talk of Lincoln Riley. And also Jimbo Fisher. The Tigers ultimately pulled of what seemed like a coup in luring Brian Kelly from Notre Dame.
The move made sense for both sides. Kelly was the winningest coach in school history with the Fighting Irish but seemed a step behind when trying to compete with the biggest programs. Better to join one that not be able to beat them. For LSU, they got a veteran coach with appearances in the College Football Playoff and Bowl Championship Series title game. Each of their last three coaches had won a national title. Kelly seemed poised to contend for one.
But the move didn’t work out. There was early success with trip to the SEC title game in his first year and quarterback Jayden Daniels winning the Heisman Trophy in his second. Consistent success, however, was elusive. There was a downturn in Kelly’s third year. His fourth season became a series of disappointments, and the school pulled the plug one day after an embarrassing home loss to Texas A&M.
LSU must now find someone to do what Kelly couldn’t: Put this team in the thick of the national championship race each season. Like the last search, they will swing big. Who will the Tigers be looking at? There are familiar names and rising stars on the list of candidates.
Lane Kiffin, Mississippi
Kiffin’s experience, track record and often brilliant offensive mind would make him a home-run hire for LSU. The same could be said for Florida, too. But LSU is the better job of the two for several reasons, including by the ability to mine one of the most fertile recruiting areas in the country with virtually no major competition. While Kelly’s inability to capitalize on a fast start to his tenure is the ultimate cause of his departure, it’s reasonable to assume that LSU was at least in some part swayed to make a move at this moment as a way to leap into the Kiffin sweepstakes. He’s as close to a sure thing as there is among active college coaches.
Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri
Drinkwitz would be a terrific fallback option for LSU if Kiffin says no. He’s essentially the off-brand Kiffin of the SEC, with a similar touch on offense, a really great run of recent success and the demeanor to handle the LSU punchbowl. Another draw is his work turning Missouri into an annual contender after taking a few years to build the depth and roster needed to compete in the SEC.
Lincoln Riley, Southern California
This might be a great opportunity for Riley and USC to come to a mutual parting of the ways, which would allow Riley to land his third upper-echelon position in as many tries. Remember, Riley was widely expected to be the Tigers’ replacement for Orgeron before shocking the sport by leaving Oklahoma for the Trojans. A few years later, Riley has probably achieved just enough at USC to be a strong candidate to be Kelly’s successor.
Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator
Brady is still remembered in Baton Rouge and elsewhere for his work as the offensive coordinator for the 2019 Tigers, who won the national championship behind maybe the best offense in the history of the sport. Brady has since moved onto the NFL, where he’s continued to build a strong reputation while working alongside Josh Allen with the Bills. The lack of experience as a head coach is a major issue that LSU might not be able to overcome; Penn State may be more willing to roll the dice.
Jon Sumrall, Tulane
LSU is familiar with what Sumrall has done in his two seasons at Tulane and aware of his success during the previous two seasons at Troy. While this might be too big a position at this point in his career, Sumrall could also be the next Dan Lanning, who was a hotshot defensive coordinator with no experience as a head coach when he was hired at Oregon. If LSU or Florida or another school thinks Sumrall has that potential, they’d be foolish not to buy in at a lower price point.
Alex Golesh, South Florida
Golesh is Sumrall’s double on the offensive side of the ball after turning USF into one of the top teams in the Group of Five. Like Sumrall, he’s also worked in the SEC, serving as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator before joining the Bulls. This is the first year the program has popped, though, after two years of solid but not spectacular results. You get the impression LSU is looking at someone a little more proven.
James Franklin
The former Penn State coach will be a contender for virtually every Power Four opening because of his turns at Vanderbilt and with the Nittany Lions. Whether that’s realistic depends on a few factors, starting with the unanswered question of whether or not Franklin wants to get right back into coaching. If he does, he’d be a solid secondary option for LSU, though behind a number of other early contenders for the opening.
