$85 Million Coach, Potential LSU Football Candidate Emerges as Favorite for ACC Job

The LSU Tigers continue navigating a coaching search in Baton Rouge with the program remaining the talk of the town following the firing of Brian Kelly in late October.

With new leaders in place after hiring a new university president, elevating Verge Ausberry to full-time athletics director, and pressing the reset button on the athletics department as a whole, LSU has ramped up its efforts in the coaching search.

Ausberry is spearheading the search as the new athletics director at LSU alongside his committee:

Scott Ballard: Chairman of the board
John Carmouche: Chairman of athletics
Ben Bordelon: Ex-LSU football player and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards
E.J. Kleeper: CEO of Our Lady of the Lake
Verge Ausberry: Athletic Director

LSU President Wade Rousse has also been added to the coaching search committee after being elected this month.

As the rumor mill swirls, it's no secret the LSU Tigers are pursuing Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin as the next decision-maker where he has emerged as a top target.

Ole Miss Rebels Football. — Nov 15, 2025; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin embraces running back Kewan Lacy (5) after defeating the Florida Gators at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

The LSU Tigers and Florida Gators are calling Kiffin with the pair of SEC schools looking to lure the Rebels' decision-maker out of the Magnolia State.

“Well, it’s going to be The Lane Kiffin Show from here on in until a decision is made,” said ESPN's Pete Thamel. “He’s a target at LSU. He’s a target at Florida. And, the competition between those two athletic departments for Lane Kiffin is going to be one of the things that hangs over the rest of this season.”

“The regular season in college football ends in late November. The playoff starts on December 19th. It is going to be a high-wire act. It is possible, but, if you are a playoff coach and you are going to take a job? It is going to be a high-wire act to do that, especially if you win games in the playoff and it extends."

But there are other candidates on the table with a viable option now labeled the top target for the Virginia Tech Hokies.

When the Penn State Nittany Lions parted ways with James Franklin this fall, the coveted shot-caller emerged as a potential candidate for multiple schools - namely the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Virginia Tech Hokies - but his name has swirled around other gigs as well.

Now, it's Virginia Tech that is ramping up its efforts for the ex-Penn State head coach.

James Franklin and Virginia Tech are engaged in the early stages of talks about him becoming the football program's next head coach, per @PeteThamel. pic.twitter.com/qbCkHnWSgC
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) November 15, 2025

Franklin has hovered as a betting favorite for the LSU Tigers, according to BetOnline, but appears to be trending elsewhere as the coaching carousel ramps up.

LSU Tigers Next Head Coach Odds [BetOnline]:

1. Nick Saban: +200
2. Lane Kiffin: +375
3. Joe Brady: +400
4. Clark Lea: +500
5. Dan Lanning: +700
6. James Franklin: +900
7. Jon Sumrall: +1000
8. Brent Key: +1400
9. Jimbo Fisher: +1800
10. Kenny Dillingham: +2000

More LSU News:

Elite LSU Football Commit Reaffirms Pledge Despite Ohio State, Ole Miss Pushing

Five Players LSU Football Must Keep After Brian Kelly's Firing, Including DJ Pickett

ESPN Insider Labels Lane Kiffin 'Top Target' for LSU Football, Florida Gators

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Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and LSU Tigers On SI: @LSUTigersSI for all coverage surrounding the LSU Tigers.