What once was unthinkable may now in fact be reality. Reports surfaced recently that LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles is currently coaching for his job, and Saturday's 38-17 blowout road loss to the Ole Miss Rebels has only intensified things. If the Tigers fall short in a season-ending SEC showdown with Texas A&M, LSU will enter bowl season on a four-game losing streak that'll drop their overall record to 7-4 and conference mark to 4-4 on the year.
If that happens, Miles will be 13-11 over his last three years in SEC play and a combined 2-7 against Alabama, Arkansas, and Ole Miss. Rumblings around Baton Rouge have posited that Miles would have to have beaten Ole Miss and/or Texas A&M to maintain his seat, even with a $15 million buyout clause looming (plus $2 million for his staff) if he's fired before January 1st. LSU would be able to stretch that buyout over the course of eight years, and the total amount would decrease if Miles jumped to another job.
So, what happens if the worse-case scenario plays out and Miles is ousted from the post he's held since 2005 with a loss to Texas A&M? Here's our LSU Head Coaching Hot Board: Top 10 Replacements For Les Miles (If He Gets Fired).
10) Ed Orgeron, DL coach, LSU
Orgeron is one of the best recruiters going in the country, and he's proven that time and time again over stints at Miami, USC, and now at LSU. A Louisiana native, Orgeron has a finger on the pulse of the area and a program. Well deserving of another head coaching shot, Orgeron has the contacts and the drive to make it work in Baton Rouge.
9) Kyle Whittingham, head coach, Utah
The Utah head coach led his squad to nine wins in the Pac-12 last season, including wins over USC and Michigan, and two of the Utes' losses were by three points or less. He's done an even better job this year, keeping the Utes in the College Football Playoff conversation until recently. Whittingham is a very underrated coach who'll be given a look by all programs looking to fill a vacancy this offseason.
8) Charlie Strong, head coach, Texas
Strong could very well find himself without a job this offseason after the Longhorns struggles this season, but if LSU is convinced that is more about Texas' lack of talent than Strong's ability as a coach, he could be their guy. Strong was the defensive coordinator of the South Carolina Gamecocks under Lou Holtz from 1999-2002, and it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility for him to make a high-profile move back to the SEC.
7) P.J. Fleck, head coach, Western Michigan
Fleck is one of the rising stars in the coaching world, taking the Broncos from a 1-11 team in 2013, his first year on the job, to 8-5 last year. At just 34 years old, he could bring a young energy to an LSU program that's looking for a spark.
6) Dabo Swinney, head coach, Clemson
Swinney has been at Clemson since 2003, but the allure of a progam like LSU is hard to ignore for any coach. Swinney has done a great job with Clemson, but could do even better with the Tigers' immense resources and national appeal. It may be hard to pry him away if Clemson makes the College Football Playoff, but what if he decides to parlay his success into a higher-profile job? He already knows how to recruit in the region, and LSU would provide him a chance to cement his coaching legacy.
5) Dave Wommack, defensive coordinator, Ole Miss
Ole Miss' defense has been amongst the best in the country under Wommack since took over as defensive coordinator in 2012, and he appears to be in line for a head coaching job sooner rather than later. His knowledge and success in the SEC makes him a very attractive candidate for the Tigers.
4) Jim Mora, head coach, UCLA
Mora's father coached the New Orleans Saints to their first-ever playoff berth, and Jim Jr. spent five years with the Saints as an assistant. He knows the area well. He's also a proven recruiter with a wealth of both NFL and college experience, along with a track record for cultivating talent while dealing with the pressures of a competitive recruiting environment. UCLA's proximity to marketing powerhouse USC has made Mora's job tough, but he's done a fantastic job with what he has and is ready to make the leap to an SEC school.
3) Tom Herman, head coach, Houston
Herman is an up-and-comer in the coaching world after leading Ohio State's offense under Urban Meyer, and his future is bright. The Cougars' offense has been an absolute firecracker under Herman in 2015, positioning Houston withing arm's length of a New Year's Six bowl bid. Herman would likely jump at the chance to take the helm of a SEC program with the clout and tradition that LSU brings to the table.
2) Kirby Smart, defensive coordinator, Alabama
Smart has been the defensive coordinator at Alabama since 2008 and is the head coach in waiting behind Nick Saban, but he may not be patient enough to wait that long. LSU is the opportunity for him to lead a SEC team and showcase his wares as the main man for a storied program. He's the right guy at the right time if the Tigers are willing to make the call.
1) Jimbo Fisher, head coach, Florida State
Here's LSU's home run candidate. Fisher coached at LSU from 2000-06 in quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator roles, playing an integral role at the end of the Nick Saban era and the beginning of Les Miles' tenure in Baton Rouge. If Fisher is going to leave Florida State, it'll be for a high-profile SEC gig. What better gig than a return to LSU?
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