Five coaches not likely to take over for the USC Trojans
FS1’s Colin Cowherd has helped USC Trojans fans cross some names off their newly made head coach wish list. After the Trojans parted ways with Clay Helton, there has been a firestorm of speculation on who will replace him going forward. According to Cowherd, these are coaches you can remove from the list of possible replacements.
“… [Steve Sarkisian], [Lane Kiffin], [Urban Meyer], James Franklin, have significant buyouts. I’m told, SC would prefer to NOT write those buyout checks. I’m also told none are interested,” Cowherd wrote. “All committed to current jobs. Also, Kliff Kingsbury LOVES his current job. Cross him off, for now.”
College coaches are known to change scenery at the drop of a dime when it’s convenient for them. Most of the time it’s for reasons such as money and job security.
College coaches
James Franklin just signed an extension in February to remain at the helm for the Penn State Nittany Lions. The extension is good for $38.2 over six years; which will conclude in 2025. Frankin has already spent six years in Happy Valley with Penn State and has gone 56-23 in that time. In his time there he’s had the Nittany Lions in contention with 11 wins in three of his six seasons. Penn State also has been to a New Year’s Six bowl game under him four times. Frankin is 2-2 in those four games.
Steve Sarkisian just signed a large contract with the Texas Longhorns over the summer for six years $34.2 million, with $21 million guaranteed. Sarkisian does have a rich history with USC. He has had three coaching stints with them, with his last one as the head coach. And that last go-around didn’t end so well as the Longhorns coach filed a $30 million wrongful termination lawsuit against the Trojans. He lost the lawsuit and declined to appeal the arbitrator’s decision.
Nick Saban has been dominating the college football world from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Saban has been at Alabama for 15 years and has led the Crimson Tide to five College Football Playoffs championship games. He has won three and lost two so far. And before the birth of the CFP, Saban captured three BCS National championships with Alabama. And Alabama also gave him the biggest contract in college football coaching history this offseason. The deal will average $10.6 million over the next six years.
USC could turn to the pros
Kliff Kingsbury made the jump to the pros in 2019 taking over the Arizona Cardinals head coaching position. Kingsbury’s record has been improving each year in Arizona. He started with a 5-10-1 recond in his first season back in 2019. in 2020 the Cardinals finished with an 8-8 record just missing the playoffs. Kingsbury could have more success in the NFL if he didn’t coach in arguably the league’s toughest division, the NFC West. In two of the last three Super Bowls, a west team has represented the NFC in the 49ers and Rams.
Urban Meyer just made his leap to the NFL this offseason after deciding to take over for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Meyer is looking to turn around the Jags after their collapse; going from a near Superbowl birth in 2017 to the number one overall pick in the draft in 2021. With that pick, he selected Trevor Lawernce, who is believed to be one of the greatest quarterback prospects to ever come out.
The coaches Cowherd listed all have the capability to help turn USC around. The only problem is unless they are fired they would need to be bought out. And after electing to cut ties with Helton just two games into the season, the University might not want to shovel out even more money right now. As of now, the college football world will have to continue to wait on who could be the next coach for the USC Trojans.