LSU has fired head coach Brian Kelly, athletic director Scott Woodward announced on Sunday evening. It's a stunning, but appropriate decision. The program is still finalizing the terms of Kelly's official dismissal. The underperforming coach is owed more than $54 million in buyout money. The Tigers will attempt to lower that number through negotiations.
LSU is on a bye, awarding them time to sort through the specifics. Kelly's final game in charge was an incredibly disappointing 49-25 blowout defeat to Texas A&M. The previously 20th-ranked Tigers fell out of the AP Top 25 as a result, with three losses to SEC programs in their latest four outings.
Kelly was dismissed less than halfway through his 10-year deal. Woodward will now oversee the process of appointing his successor. We've identified four potential candidates.
Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss
Lane Kiffin may be LSU's preferred candidate, but it wouldn't be an easy negotiation. Though he remains under contract at Ole Miss for the foreseeable future, the terms may be renegotiated. The Florida Gators are expected to make an aggressive offer. Billy Gonzales was named the Gators' interim following Billy Napier's recent in-season firing.
If Kiffin is Woodward's target, LSU will make a serious approach. How does Florida respond to potential interest from the Tigers? Is Kiffin ready to depart Ole Miss, or can the Rebels successfully tug on his heartstrings? This three-way battle could possess twists and turns.
James Franklin
James Franklin may be viewed as an uninspiring candidate by some, but LSU may feel different internally. Franklin is the most qualified coach on the open market, and Woodward could prefer experience to navigate the challenges of Kelly's stunning departure. A low-risk successor could gain traction given the difficulties at play.
Franklin is available immediately following his firing from Penn State. The Langhorne, Pennsylvania native owns a 68% win-rate as a head coach. It's difficult to argue with Franklin's resume between his run with the Nittany Lions and his exceeded-expectations tenure at Vanderbilt.
Jon Gruden
Jon Gruden would be the most outside-the-box candidate. Bear with us. Swings and shocking appointments dominate Woodward's history of head coaching appointments. Woodward hired Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M and stole Kelly away from Notre Dame.
Gruden has maintained an interest in coaching. He possesses one of the most brilliant offensive minds in the sport. With Gruden's ongoing lawsuit against the NFL possibly preventing a return to the pro game, a return to the college ranks (he last served as the Pittsburgh Panthers' wide receivers coach in 1991 before making the NFL jump) could provide a route back to coaching.
Jon Sumrall, Tulane
Jon Sumrall wouldn't be the splashiest candidate, but he's arguably the most deserving. A former SEC linebacker who is familiar with the conference and area, Sumrall should be appointed by a major program soon. After previously working as a position coach at Ole Miss and Kentucky, he went 23-4 at Troy (2022-23) in his first opportunity to lead a team.
Tulane went 9-5 in Sumrall's debut season, and they currently look improved at 6-1. The in-state politics could complicate this potential pairing. If outside distractions don't play a role, Sumrall should be on LSU's shortlist.
