LSU coaching search: USA Today names seven candidates to replace Brian Kelly

LSU fired Brian Kelly on Sunday after nearly four seasons as the Tigers’ head coach. The move came after the Tigers lost 49-25 against Texas A&M on Saturday as LSU fell to 5-3 on the season.

A coaching search has now begun in Baton Rouge, and many names have already been tossed into the hat as being potential fits as Kelly’s successor at LSU. Now, USA Today has revealed seven names who could potentially be the next head coach of the LSU Tigers. Here’s who made the list:

Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss

It’s never a surprise when Lane Kiffin makes a coaching search hot board. However, LSU has all of the resources for him to succeed and then some in Baton Rouge.

That’s not to say Ole Miss doesn’t have the same resources. In fact, Kiffin’s Rebels are in line to make the College Football Playoff for the first time under his guidance. Whether that solidifies his ties to Oxford deeper, or raises his stock in the coaching carousel remains to be seen.

Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri

Eli Drinkwitz has led Missouri to consecutive 10-win seasons for the first time in his tenure over the past two seasons. That includes a 13-7 record against SEC competition since the start of the 2023 season.

This season, the Tigers are off to a 6-2 start and have been ranked as high as No. 14 in the AP poll. He’s also a former SEC Coach of the Year (2023).

Lincoln Riley, USC

USC finished 11-3 during Lincoln Riley’s first season with the program. The last two seasons had their ups and downs, but in 2025 it appears that Riley is back on track in LA.

Despite the setbacks, Riley’s teams have been ranked in all four seasons he’s been the coach. He also has produced three Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks: Baker Mayfield (2017), Kyler Murray (2018), and Caleb Williams (2022).

Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills OC

Joe Brady has been in the NFL ever since winning a national championship as the passing game coordinator to Joe Burrow and company. He’s risen up the ranks in the Buffalo Bills organization, being brought on as QB coach before being named offensive coordinator in 2024.

The obvious next step for the 36-year-old offensive guru would be to become a head coach. Whether that’s in the NFL, or college remains to be seen.

Jon Sumrall, Tulane

Jon Sumrall has been present on several coaching hot boards this season, and LSU’s job is no different. However, this one might make sense — geographically at least. Sumrall is the head coach at Tulane, which is just an hour and a half away from Baton Rouge.

Sumrall is currently 38-10 as a head coach across four seasons. He was co-defensive coordinator at Kentucky in 2021 before becoming head coach at Troy. He won at least 11 games in each of the two seasons he spent there before taking the job at Tulane before the 2024 season.

Alex Golesh, USF

USF is off to its best start under head coach Alex Golesh in his third season with the program. Currently 6-2, the Bulls still have a shot at making the College Football Playoffs if they play their cards right.

A CFP run would certainly look good on Golesh’s resume if he tried to get the LSU job. However, Golesh is currently in his first head coaching gig and is 20-14 since taking the USF job after finishing his first two seasons with 7-6 records.

James Franklin

James Franklin nearly led Penn State to a national championship last season — somewhere LSU hasn’t been since 2019. Franklin has proven to be able to lead teams to great seasons and defy expectations.

At the same time, fans aren’t going to forget his record against top 25 teams. This includes 4-21 at Penn State against top-10 opponents and 1-18 against top-10 Big Ten teams in conference games. Overall, Franklin is 128-60 overall as a head coach, which includes his three-year stint at Vanderbilt (24-15). He’ll be at the top of many hot boards this offseason as well.