LSU football: 4 underrated options to replace Ed Orgeron in Baton Rouge

Now that Coach O has effectively been fired — although he’ll remain with the team until the end of the season — who are some LSU coaching candidates?

The LSU football team will have a new head coach in 2022, as Ed Orgeron and the university have agreed to separate at the end of the season.

This was not even two years removed since LSU went undefeated and won the College Football Playoff. Orgeron may have a winning record at LSU, but things were starting to become untenable in Baton Rouge. While this is one of the best jobs in all of college football, the Bayou Bengals may not be able to get their top choice this offseason. Then again, money talks in the SEC footprint.

Here are four underrated options LSU should consider during its coaching search this offseason.

Coach O Fired: LSU coaching candidates with Ed Orgeron leaving

Mel Tucker can recruit in the SEC, but will he leave Michigan State hanging?

From a culture-building and recruiting standpoint, Mel Tucker would be a phenomenal fit at LSU. The former NFL defensive coordinator has served on Nick Saban’s Alabama staff and Kirby Smart’s Georgia staff before leading his own team. While he spurned Colorado after one season to take the Michigan State job, he has his Spartans contending for a Big Ten East crown in year two.

Tucker does have Big Ten roots and may want to stay in East Lansing for the time being to see what he can build at Michigan State. However, he is a prime candidate to “pop” in year two at a place like LSU. If he has the Spartans pushing for a Big Ten East title only two years after Mark Dantonio collected his retention bonus before retiring, Tucker can get LSU back to a 10-win team.

Though Tucker would be a great fit, the timing is not right for him to leave Michigan State just yet.