One of the most fascinating coaching cycles in recent memory added another marquee opening with LSU’s firing of Brian Kelly, creating a vacancy that is likely to pique the interest of several prominent candidates.
Some immediate potential frontrunners bubbled to the top of rumor mills. Among them being Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin and recently fired Penn State coach James Franklin, who have been mentioned in connection to multiple other openings already.
However, it’s a somewhat lesser known name who emerged as the early frontrunner.
Tulane coach Jon Sumrall was installed as the +150 favorite by at least one sportsbook. The 43-year-old was linked to multiple Power 4 openings last year before signing an extension with the Green Wave last December.
After guiding Troy to a 23-4 record over two seasons, he led Tulane to the Gasparilla Bowl in 2024 and has the Green Wave sitting at 6-1 this season. Sumrall also has SEC ties, having played linebacker at Kentucky, where he returned as an assistant coach from 2019-21 after a year as Ole Miss’ linebackers coach.
The second shortest odds has direct ties to LSU. Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady served as the Tigers’ passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach in 2019, when he worked with Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow.
The next shortest odds belong to Kiffin and Franklin, followed by Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, whose name has also been linked to several prominent openings including Florida and Penn State.
UCLA, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Arkansas, UAB and Colorado State also have ousted their head coaches since this season began.
NEXT LSU COACH ODDS*
Jon Sumrall, Tulane (+150)
Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills OC (+200)
Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss (+500)
James Franklin, ex-Penn State (+600)
Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri (+800)
Jeff Brohm, Louisville (+1200)
Brent Key, Georgia Tech, (+1400)
Jimbo Fisher, ex-Texas A&M (+1800)
Clark Lea, Vanderbilt (+2000)
Urban Meyer, ex-Jacksonville Jaguars (+2500)
Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame (+2500)
Rhett Lashlee, SMU (+3300)
Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State (+4000)
Jon Gruden, ex-Oakland Raiders (+4000)
Lincoln Riley, Southern Cal (+4500)
Dan Mullen, ex-Florida (+5000)
Dabo Swinney, Clemson (+5000)
Dan Lanning, Oregon (+6600)
Alex Golesh, South Florida (+6600)
Matt Campbell, Iowa State (+7500)
Nick Saban, ex-Alabama (+7500)
*BetOnline.ag odds provided for entertainment purposes only.
LSU athletics director Scott Woodward said that the program will immediately begin a national search for a new head coach.
Kelly, who recorded a 34-14 record with the Tigers, was shown the door one day after his 20th-ranked Tigers turned an 18-14 halftime lead into a 24-point home loss to Texas A&M.
“As a proud alum, and as the current caretaker of our athletics programs, I will not compromise in our pursuit of excellence and we will not lower our standards,” Woodward said in a statement. “I continue to believe that LSU is the best football program in America and that our head coach position is among the best considering our investment, our ability to attract and retain talent, our unbelievable fans, and our institutional and statewide commitment to — and love for — LSU Football.”
