How LSU football coaching candidates fared in Week 11 games

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LSU football fans stopped thinking about the coaching search and returned their focus to the field for a few hours on Saturday night. LSU was back in action for its first game since firing Kelly. Interim head coach Frank Wilson was leading the way, but LSU came up short, losing 20-9 at Alabama.

LSU is 5-4 and long out of the playoff race. The best LSU can do this year is a middling bowl game. Fans are more invested in the mystery of LSU’s next coach rather than the action on the field.

With three more weeks to go in the regular season, coaching searches are heating up. Several Power Four jobs are open and searches have been underway for weeks, but as the regular season wraps up, we’ll get more concrete information — something more than just message board rumors.

Most of LSU’s top candidates are the sitting head coaches of other programs, several of which are contending for a spot in the College Football Playoff. It’s time for another check-in on how the hottest names on the coaching board fared in Week 11.

Lane Kiffin — Ole Miss HC

Ole Miss took care of business vs. an FCS opponent, beating The Citadel 49-0. The Rebels are 9-1 and have a clear path to the College Football Playoff.

Jon Sumrall — Tulane HC

Sumrall and Tulane were on the wrong end of an upset in Week 10, but the Green Wave bounced back this week with a massive 38-32 win at Memphis. With the victory, Tulane is back in contention for the G6 playoff spot.

Eli Drinkwitz — Missouri HC

Missouri hosted No. 3 Texas A&M, needing a win to keep its playoff hopes alive, but A&M continued to roll at Missouri’s expense. The Aggies won 38-17, and Missouri fell to 6-3. It’s hard to pin the loss on Drinkwitz — Missouri’s starting QB entered training camp as QB3, but injuries have decimated the Missouri QB room.

Jeff Brohm — Louisville HC

Louisville entered Saturday 7-1, ranked No. 14 in the College Football Playoff rankings. But Brohm’s Cardinals were upset by Cal, falling to 7-2. Louisville’s playoff hits took a hit as an at-large bid is probably out of the question now. The Cardinals will have to win the ACC.

Clark Lea — Vandy HC

Vanderbilt faced Auburn in Auburn’s first game since firing head coach Hugh Freeze. Auburn put up a fight and the Tigers‘ offense finally found life, but Vanderbilt prevailed in overtime. An at-large playoff invite is within reach for Lea’s squad.

Alex Golseh — USF HC

Alex Golesh’s offense rolled as USF beat UTSA 55-23. USF has a chance to be ranked in this week’s playoff rankings, and if the Bulls win out, there’s a good chance they represent the G6 in the field of 12.

Matt Campbell — Iowa State HC

Iowa State isn’t having the exact year it wanted. The Cyclones have dealt with a handful of injuries on defense and lost some close games, but Campbell secured a big win on Saturday, beating TCU 20-17. With the win, Iowa State is bowl eligible.

Ryan Silverfield — Memphis HC

Silverfield was on the other side of Sumrall’s win. Memphis entered the week in the driver’s seat for the G6 playoff bid, but the Tigers will need some help now.

Other candidates

  • Georgia Tech’s Brent Key and Arizona State‘s Kenny Dillingham were both on byes. Both expressed a desire to remain at their current jobs last week, too.
  • Lions DC and former LSU linebacker Kelvin Sheppard faces the Commanders on Sunday afternoon.
  • Obviously, James Franklin was not coaching on Saturday after being let go by Penn State in October. LSU hiring Franklin is a long shot, but with all the jobs open, anything can happen on this carousel.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: How LSU football coaching candidates fared in Week 11 games

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