Betsided

Let's Set Odds: Who Replaces Lincoln Riley as Oklahoma Head Coach?

By Ben Heisler

Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury has been floated as a potential replacement for Riley, but would he leave the NFL to return to college?
Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury has been floated as a potential replacement for Riley, but would he leave the NFL to return to college? / Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
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Who wants to take over for Lincoln Riley as the next head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners?

Over at FanSided, Ethan Lee put together a list of five potential replacements for Lincoln Riley to take over at OU as they transition to the Southeastern Conference. All five names are intriguing and will likely warrant consideration, but how would oddsmakers handicap the chances for each one? What about outside the box candidates?

While odds aren't actually available over at WynnBET for which coach will take over on the sidelines in 2022, let's set the odds here at BetSided for several potential candidates that could take over in Norman, Okla.

Odds for who will be the next football coach at the University of Oklahoma?

  • Mark Stoops +200
  • Josh Heupel +250
  • Matt Campbell +350
  • Bob Stoops: +375
  • Alex Grinch +400
  • Luke Fickell +500
  • Mario Cristobal +750
  • Jay Norvell +800
  • Brent Venables +1000
  • Kliff Kingsbury +1500
  • Lane Kiffin +2000

Exclusive offer. Bet $1, Win $100 if either team scores a TD. . dark

Mark Stoops +200

Makes too much sense not to connect the dots. Stoops is the younger brother of legendary OU coach Bob Stoops who is returning from retirement and his FOX College Football broadcast career to coach the Sooners in their bowl game.

Stoops has turned Kentucky into a solid tier out of nothing in the SEC and knows the landscape of the conference as a winner as Oklahoma joins the toughest conference in college football.

Josh Heupel +250

The former Sooners quarterback can't be ruled out despite just one season in Knoxville with the Volunteers. Heupel is a gifted offensive mind who helped Tennessee reach seven wins in his first season.

Heupel would likely be a fan favorite for the hire, having won the Sooners' last national championship back in 2000.

Matt Campbell +350

The Iowa State coach may have had a bit of a letdown season with several notable juniors and seniors returning, but he's a big time name that's had consistent success in the Big 12 the last several years.

Bob Stoops +375

Plenty of coaches have come back out of retirement in some capacity to return to the gridiron. Barry Alvarez did at Wisconsin, as did Bill Snyder at Kansas State.

Stoops is only 61 years old, and still has the itch to coach as evidenced by his stint in the XFL. Perhaps OU brings him a boat full of money and he helps them create a succession plan as they head to the SEC.

Alex Grinch +400

The Sooners hired from within with Riley replacing Stoops, and Grinch has a very solid resume. As Lee points out, he's worked with many big time college coaches including Urban Meyer, Gary Pinkel and Mike Leach.

Ultimately, I don't see this move happening with the Sooners needing a splash hire heading into the SEC. A first-year coach in this spot would be in a brutal situation.

Luke Fickell +500

The head coach of the currently undefeated Cincinnati Bearcats will have plenty of big name suitors this offseason, but does the Ohio native even want to move considering the Big 12 will be adding the Bearcats along with BYU, Houston and UCF in the not-too-distant future?

Mario Cristobal +750

Cristobal would likely parlay interest into an extension and raise at Oregon, where they have more money than almost anyone. Regardless, if Cristobal were to leave the pacific northwest, a school in Florida would likely be the reason why. With Florida expected to hire Billy Napier from Louisiana, this is likely a non-starter.

Jay Norvell +800

Norvell worked at OU under Stoops for six years before leaving for Nevada. The Wolf Pack's style of offense would fit right in at Oklahoma, as Nevada finished amongst the top 15 scoring teams in the country.

Brent Venables +1000

Another coach with clear ties to the program; coaching under Stoops for 12 years including a title in 2000. Despite Venables' success both at OU and Clemson, winning three national championships, he has never been a head coach at the age of 50. That could be a concern heading into a new conference with exorbitant expectations.

Kliff Kingsbury +1500

I don't get this at all, despite the tweet sent out by ESPN's Adam Schefter regarding the potential interest on OU's side.

Kingsbury has the Cardinals at 9-2 atop one of the toughest divisions in the NFL. Unless he's so desparate to leave Arizona or return to college football, his interest is laughable. The only reason odds are even on the board is because of Schefter's reporting.

Lane Kiffin +2000

Kiffin is likely on his way out despite bringing Ole Miss back to respectability again. The problem is, he won't be coaching Matt Corral anymore (unless he gets an NFL job where he gets drafted), so there's no real reason for Kiffin to stay if he wants more money and a more lucrative opportunity.

However, Kiffin also understands the "be careful what you wish for" adage with his previous stints at Tennessee and USC now the rearview mirror.

He did, however, do a hilarious job trolling the college football landscape earlier by tweeting pictures of license plates in states that are looking for head coaching positions.

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