It cannot only be about the search.
Likewise, it cannot wait until the first game is played -- which for any of these subjects still is more than 260 days from this random December Tuesday.
No, the 2025 Coaching Carousel does not stop spinning when a help wanted sign is removed, a job application says process completed and some coach, somewhere, has inked a deal -- full contract or memorandum of understanding (M.O.U.) -- almost exclusively worth multiple millions and most often now tens of millions.
Of course the ride isn't over. More coaches will leave. There might be an unexpected firing or retirement still yet to unfold.
But in without question the zaniest carousel since 2021, when Florida, LSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and USC, among myriad others all opened, much has been settled.
Florida lost the Lane Kiffin Sweepstakes. It might have won the Southeastern Conference turf-war with its hiring of Jon Sumrall.
LSU, meanwhile, feels extremely optimistic about its ability to land the mercurial Kiffin. He sought advice from notable coaching luminaries to include Pete Carroll and Nick Saban and then left a scorched trail, merely figuratively speaking it's believed, the 330 miles south from Oxford, Mississippi, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that seemed like college football's version of Sherman's Match to the Sea.
And Kiffin brought almost his entire offensive staff with him, until he did not; now they're all back in the Grove preparing for the biggest game in program history when Tulane visits Dec. 20 for an opening-round clash in the second-ever 12-team College Football Playoff.
So, which team won this carousel -- to this point?
Actually, there's a strong argument to be made for Michigan State. Pat Fitzgerald saw the dumpster fire atop Spartans football, had been forced by Northwestern's hasty -- and later insanely costly -- rush to judgement to sit out three years and now has returned seemingly recharged, reinvigorated and ready to unleash a 1,000-day revenge tour. Fitzgerald is college football, and sitting out the past three seasons remains fuel for his return.
Bob Chesney is being introduced today at UCLA, and the budget-conscious Bruins believe they might be hiring the next Curt Cignetti.
It isn't just the James Madison success both coaches share; neither one lacks for an ounce of self-belief or swagger. Chesney is putting Lincoln Riley on notice in LaLa Land.
Auburn's going full-tilt with Alex Golesh, the Moscow, Russia, native, who grew to acclaim running a break-neck offense, most visible at SEC rival Tennessee, and now is set to face the Vols and former employer Josh Heupel next fall.
Debate? Discussion? Disagreement? Yep. The latest FootballScoop Podcast has it all.
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