Odds released on who could be next Auburn football coach

NS_headshot_clearbackgroundby:Nick Schultz•11/01/22•

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Monday, Auburn made the long-awaited decision and fired Bryan Harsin. That means there’s a high-profile job open, and big names could be waiting in the wings.

Las Vegas oddsmakers have released the favorites to take the job, and some interesting candidates are on the list.

Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze is the favorite to replace Harsin, according to BetOnline.ag, closely followed by Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin. Both names have been linked to the job since Harsin’s firing, as has Jackson State coach Deion Sanders, who has the third-best odds.

Additionally, Mississippi State coach Mike Leach appears on the list. Just after announcing the decision to fire Harsin, Auburn announced it’s hiring Bulldogs athletic director Jeff Cohen as its new AD, leading to speculation about whether Leach could follow him to Auburn.

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Here’s the full list of odds to take over at Auburn, according to BetOnline:

Hugh Freeze: +200
Lane Kiffin: +275
Deion Sanders: +700
Jeff Grimes: +1100
Mike Leach: +1100
Kevin Steele: +1200
Mark Stoops: +1200
Matt Rhule: +1200
Mike Gundy: +1200
Matt Campbell: +1400
Urban Meyer: +2500

Last week, Freeze signed a contract extension at Liberty, but that hasn’t stopped speculation that he could depart for Auburn. He has experience in the SEC, coaching at Ole Miss from 2012-16, which could be attractive as the Tigers embark on their coaching search.

Rhule’s name has been a hot one around college coaching circles since the Carolina Panthers parted ways with him last month. He had an 11-27 record in more than two seasons with the Panthers, but he turned Temple from a 2-11 team to 10-3 over four years before taking Baylor to an 11-3 record in 2019. A return to college could be in the cards.

ESPN releases initial hot board, targets for Auburn after Bryan Harsin firing

Here’s who ESPN has atop the list of potential candidates for Auburn moving forward.

  • HC Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss Rebels
  • HC Hugh Freeze, Liberty Flames
  • OC Jeff Grimes, Baylor Bears
  • HC Deion Sanders, Jackson State Tigers
  • Matt Rhule, former Temple, Baylor and Carolina Panthers HC
  • Bill Clark, former UAB HC
  • DC Kevin Steele, Miami Hurricanes
  • OC Bill O’Brien, Alabama Crimson Tide
  • HC Jamey Chadwell, Coastal Carolina