The Brian Kelly era is over at LSU.
In his fourth year, he’s reportedly been fired after losing three of his last four SEC games, the last one a humbling home loss to Texas A&M in which the team let up 35 second half points.
In today’s college football landscape, programs can’t afford to stay stagnant, so eyes are already on who might replace Kelly as the next head coach of LSU.
Both ESPN and On3 insiders have already released lists of potential candidates. Here’s who they named.
Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss
Kiffin, one of college football’s biggest personalities, bested LSU just four weeks ago. He has Ole Miss ranked No. and positioned as a serious College Football Playoff contender. Under Kiffin, the Rebels’ talent acquisition has taken a big leap forward, with its recent transfer portal classes ranking among the best.
Both On3 and ESPN had Kiffin leading their lists.
Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame
Freeman was Kelly’s former defensive coordinator when the latter coached at Notre Dame. LSU reportedly tried to bring Freeman to Baton Rouge along with Kelly, but Freeman instead took the top job with the Fighting Irish. He took the team to the national championship game last year, where it lost to Ohio State.
Freeman was on both On3 and ESPN’s lists.
Jon Sumrall, Tulane
Sumrall is in his first year just an hour south of LSU at Tulane, but he’s already shown up as a candidate for several high-profile openings. However, he has no experience as the head coach of a Power Four team.
He was included as an option on both On3 and ESPN’s lists.
Brent Key, Georgia Tech
Key has been the head coach at his alma mater Georgia Tech since 2022 and is in the midst of leading the program’s best season in years. Georgia Tech is 8-0 and ranked No. 9 in the country.
Key was on both lists.
Eliah Drinkwitz, Missouri
Drinkwitz is a candidate from inside the SEC who’s remade Missouri into a consistently relevant program. His best season came in 2023 when the Tigers finished 11-3.
Drinkwitz was on both ESPN and On3’s lists.
Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State
Dillingham is in his third year as the head coach of Arizona State and, at just 35 years old, is one of college football’s top young coaches. Last year, he led the Sun Devils on a surprise run to an 11-3 record and deep into the College Football Playoff.
Dillingham was included in On3’s list.
Jeff Brohm, Louisville
Brohm has been an effective coach at both Purdue and Louisville who’s consistently punched above his weight class. Louisville is 6-1 and ranked No. 16 in the country this year.
On3 named Brohm as a potential candidate.
Clark Lea, Vanderbilt
Lea’s Vanderbilt team topped LSU last week and has gone from SEC cellar dweller to a potential national championship contender, due mostly to the performance on quarterback Diego Pavia. The Commodores are 7-1 and ranked No. 9 in the country. Lea also worked under Kelly at Notre Dame.
Lea was on On3’s list of candidates.
