A few of these names will cause cascading dominoes throughout industry
1. James Franklin, Penn State – We wrote this morning on Yahoo Sports that Franklin is USC’s likely top target. It’s reasonable to think FSU fired Taggart so soon because they wanted a jump on top candidates. Franklin has the experience, skill and recruiting cachet to revive the Seminoles. Does he risk the administrative migraines? His buyout is only $1 million, but his salary is $5 million and FSU would have to overpay.
2. Mario Cristobal, Oregon – Andy Miller and the Seminole Boosters could get invited to the Eugene Chamber of Commerce for an Economic Stimulus Award if Cristobal goes there. They’d have to pay $9 million up until Jan. 14, in addition to the $3 million they paid for Taggart. Cristobal is a Florida native and has long coveted this job. Does he leave stable AD Rob Mullins and the burgeoning program for the unknown in Tallahassee?
3. Matt Rhule, Baylor – He’s certainly navigated some messes before in his career, as he revived Baylor in the wake of sanctions. Rhule has learned with Pat Kraft at Temple and Mack Rhoades at Baylor how important alignment is in a coaching job. The alignment at FSU is not immediately visible.
4. P.J. Fleck, Minnesota – His buyout is $4 million, which isn’t insurmountable. Fleck has made both Western Michigan (13-1 in 2016) and Minnesota (8-0) relevant in a four-year span by going undefeated deep into the season, which shows he can do more with less. It’s the first time either has been on the national stage in generations. What could he do with the talent and brand of FSU?
5. Matt Campbell, Iowa State – The $6 million buyout would be a factor. The question lingers as to whether Campbell would leave his Midwestern roots when a Big Ten or NFL job could come calling.
6. Mike Norvell, Memphis – Because all of the above coaches have stable situations, none would sprint to Tallahassee. Norvell loves Memphis and has been paid well above Group of Five market at $2.6 million, but this is the caliber of opportunity he’s been waiting for. The timing here is good for Norvell, as he just had the eyes of the college football world on the job he’s done at Memphis this weekend. Bonus for cash-strapped FSU: Norvell’s buyout is only $500,000.
7. Mark Stoops, Kentucky – Don’t be surprised if this name garners serious interest. Stoops spent three years at FSU earlier this decade and has shown he can run a capable and professional program. There’s not much sizzle to Stoops, but FSU needs to find stability more than sizzle.
8. Scott Satterfield, Louisville – Want a coach to come in and fix a chronically underachieving and undisciplined program? Well, Satterfield just did that at Louisville, taking over a 2-10 program and having them 5-3 this season. Does he aim higher? The buyout is $5 million, which isn’t untenable.
9. Bryan Harsin, Boise State – Seminoles officials saw up close what a Harsin team looks like, as the Broncos upset FSU in the opener this season. Harsin’s 78 percent winning percentage is among the elite in college football, and he clearly could instill the needed discipline and offensive polish. The biggest question: Could he jump from Boise to the deep South?
10. Luke Fickell, Cincinnati – He’s headed toward back-to-back 10-win season and brings football sensibilities that would resonate at FSU. This would be another culture leap, as Fickell has essentially never lived outside the state of Ohio. It’s hard to argue with a coach who has gone 18-3 the past two years.
11. Tony Elliott or Brent Venables, Clemson – If FSU were to go the assistant coach route, the first glance would be at Clemson. If they wanted an accomplished offensive mind, they’d look at Elliott, who has been the most coveted offensive coach the past few years in the sport. Venables has been notoriously picky, but a job the caliber of FSU could move him to change his mind.
