The Coaching Carousel: Spinning Hypotheticals Around Brian Kelly's Next Big Move

Ah, the eternal 'what if' in college football, isn't it? One minute, a coach is firmly ensconced in a plum job, having just inked a deal that could buy a small island, and the next, we're all, quite naturally, speculating about where he might end up next. Such is the fascinating, often maddening, world of Brian Kelly.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: Kelly just signed a behemoth of a contract at LSU – ten years, nearly a hundred million dollars. That kind of commitment usually screams 'I’m here to stay,' right? And in truth, for all intents and purposes, he probably is. Yet, the man has a history, a rather compelling pattern, if you will, of ascending the coaching ladder, moving from Grand Valley State to Central Michigan, then to Cincinnati, Notre Dame, and finally, Baton Rouge. He’s a climber, a pragmatist, always — or at least, almost always — looking for that next big challenge, that slightly shinier apple.

So, let's play along for a moment, just for the sheer fun of it. Let’s imagine a world, perhaps five or seven years down the line, where the Tigers' faithful somehow grow restless, or a truly irresistible opportunity beckons. Where might Brian Kelly, a coach with a winning pedigree as long as a Louisiana bayou, choose to plant his flag next? It’s a compelling thought experiment, you could say.

One whispered possibility, a notion that surfaces whenever things get a little shaky in Happy Valley, is Penn State. Now, James Franklin is the current steward of the Nittany Lions, and while he's certainly brought a level of stability, the fervent fanbase always seems to want… more. They crave a national title, the kind of consistent, top-tier success that Kelly has, frankly, achieved at multiple stops. Plus, Kelly's roots are firmly in the Midwest, making a return to the region, and to a storied program like Penn State, a curiously natural fit. It’s a destination job, one that offers both tradition and rabid support.

Then there’s Auburn. Oh, Auburn. A place where the coaching seat is less a seat and more a perpetual hot plate, sizzling year after year. The Tigers have an almost insatiable appetite for winning, but a baffling inability to keep a coach around for the long haul. They pour money into the program like water, and they yearn for stability, for someone to finally bring sustained glory to the plains. Kelly, with his proven track record of transforming programs and his knack for relentless recruiting, would be an intriguing, if perhaps combustible, match. Can you imagine the pressure? Honestly, it would be immense, but if anyone thrives on that, it’s a coach like Kelly.

And what about the NFL? It's the final frontier for many a successful college coach, isn't it? Kelly, believe it or not, has flirted with the pros before, reportedly interviewing with teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and the Houston Texans. The money, the challenge of coaching the very best, the prestige — it all calls to a certain type of competitor. However, one has to wonder if the loss of absolute control, something Kelly reportedly values highly, would be a deal-breaker. College coaches, especially those who’ve built empires, often struggle with the collaborative, less autocratic nature of the NFL. But then again, a truly tempting offer, a well-run organization… you never really know, do you?

So, while Brian Kelly is almost certainly staying put in Death Valley for the foreseeable future, luxuriating in that gargantuan contract, it’s still rather fun to ponder the possibilities. Because in the wild, unpredictable world of college football, the 'what if' is always just around the corner, waiting to ignite the next big conversation.