LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- I'm not sure what's happening in college football anymore. The calendar says October. The moving trucks say December. Midseason firings are the new black. Coaches are being offed like extras in a Tarantino film. Leave the buyout. Take the cannoli.
(Sorry about the mixed movie metaphors. It's Monday.)
These aren't the usual suspects from winless backwaters. These are big-name coaches with big-time résumés and bigger buyouts. It's like a bank-run, complete with contagious panic and lost millions.
Penn State got things started with James Franklin. Arkansas showed Sam Pittman the door. Oklahoma State pulled the plug on Mike Gundy. Florida dropped Billy Napier. LSU dumped Brian Kelly.
Louisville | Kentucky | Indiana | Eric Crawford
That's three SEC openings before you've even carved a pumpkin. When Kentucky visits Auburn this weekend, don't be surprised if a job fair breaks out. It's the LinkedIn Bowl: Bring khakis and a résumé.
In the ACC, Virginia Tech and Stanford are open. Florida State could be next. Wisconsin might not be far behind in the Big Ten.
Every case is different. Sometimes, the locker room crumbles. Sometimes, the boosters mutiny. But unless there's mistreatment or internal scandal, firing a coach midseason feels like waving the white flag. You're not overhauling your staff or improving your portal position — you're just setting fire to the furniture.
I'm convinced Penn State let Franklin go when it did because it was easier to can him after three straight losses than after he patched things up with a few late wins. They struck while the iron (seat) was hot.
Florida's move had been marinating for a while. Arkansas had Bobby Petrino already warming up in the bullpen. But LSU? I'm no Kelly fan, but what advantage are they gaining in October? The portal clock hasn't started. You just dumped a guy who is still winning before the holiday lights were even up.
Oklahoma State fired Gundy when the team was 1-2. They've gone 0-5 since. It has lost its last two games 91-17.
One thing is certain — this round of coaching musical chairs is shaping up to be the wildest in recent memory.
And it's already touching this region.
Curt Cignetti, Indiana's head coach, now has the third-highest salary in college football — a reported $11.6 million annually — thanks to Penn State's interest.
Mark Stoops' tenure at Kentucky is teetering. But, in this market, you have to wonder how the Kentucky job will stack up against some of the other big names in the market.
Louisville fans, meanwhile, might feel insulated. Jeff Brohm is a hometown guy. His ties to the city and program run deep. And money — at least in terms of his own paycheck — may not be his biggest motivator.
But money to compete? That's another matter.
If Louisville finds itself in a position where it begins to be regularly outbid for players, how long before even Brohm has to pick up the phone? This morning, USA Today posted a headline suggesting Florida — if it can't land Lane Kiffin — should call Brohm next.
They won't be the only ones dialing.
Let's be honest: If Brohm didn't come with a return address tattooed across his chest, he'd already be high on every athletic director's list — and he might be anyway.
What concerns me most about this trend is that some of these firings aren't about wrongdoing or scandal. They're just about not winning fast enough. And apparently, in 2025, that's grounds for exile before the leaves even start falling.
Maybe that's just the new reality. Or maybe schools are throwing good buyout money after bad without really thinking things though.
Quick sips
POLL JUMP: Louisville climbed to No. 16 in the latest AP poll, while Indiana stayed at No. 2. Check out the latest rankings here.
THE ISAAC BROWN EXPERIENCE: Saturday's win over Boston College further cemented that Louisville's football fortunes may ride on the uncommon talent of running back Isaac Brown. My column here.
The Last Drop
"When Coach Kelly arrived at LSU four years ago, we had high hopes that he would lead us to multiple SEC and national championships during his time in Baton Rouge. Ultimately, the success at the level that LSU demands simply did not materialize, and I made the decision to make a change after last night's game. I am grateful for the ongoing consultations and support of the LSU Board of Supervisors and Interim President Matt Lee in this decision. We wish Coach Kelly and his family the very best in their future endeavors. We will continue to negotiate his separation and will work toward a path that is better for both parties."
LSU Athletic director Scott Woodward, announcing the firing of Brian Kelly
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