Let's Set Odds: Who Will Be Next Head Coach at Oregon?

The college football coaching carousel keeps on churning. Another prominent job opened when Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal returned to his alma mater, Miami, earlier this week, opening up the head coaching position in Eugene.

Who will be poached next? Let's set some odds and canvass the national landscape for the next head coach of the Ducks.

Dave Aranda (+1000)

Aranda has rebuilt Baylor quickly, taking home the Big 12 Championship last weekend, and I can't see the school letting him walk.

However, there is no denying that Oregon has become a destination school with Nike headquartered nearby, is that enough to pull Aranda?

It's a long shot, but probably a dream candidate.

Matt Campbell (+600)

About 24 months ago, Campbell was one of the hottest names in college football to take the reigns of a bigger program, but the shine has worn off after an underwhelming season at Iowa State.

Could Campbell take the job at Oregon? Possibly. The Cyclones head coach reiterated his desire to stay and build a program in Ames, but we have seen feelings change quickly in college football.

The Big 12 is about to go through a seismic shift with Texas and Oklahoma set to leave for the SEC and he can jump ship as well, if Oregon looks his way.

Chip Kelly (+500)

What a long strange trip it would be if Kelly were to return to Eugene to head up the program that vaunted him to an NFL job in the past.

The connections are there and Kelly has been at nearby UCLA for several years now, reacclimated to the PAC-12 and the competition. In a year that we have seen massive movements in the national landscape, would Oregon return to its roots and bring back the coach that led them to a national title game a decade ago?

Bill O'Brien (+350)

O'Brien has been the offensive coordinator at Alabama for a year, which has become a feeding ground for the next big name head coach, as seen last year with Steve Sarkisian taking over at Texas.

He has the pedigree as a successful college and pro coach to remain a popular recruiting target in the PAC-12. After such unprecedent movement over the past several weeks, programs will begin to look at coordinators on College Football Playoff contenders, and O'Brien will definitely be at the top of the list.

Justin Wilcox (+175)

This isn't the most popular name, but it makes a lot of sense for Oregon to turn to former player and current Cal coach Justin Wilcox.

Wilcox has taken Cal to two bowl games in five seasons at the school, but the last two years were particularly rough given the COVID-19 restrictions on California schools. There is no doubt that Wilcox, a strong defensive mind who is familiar with recruiting in the PAC-12, would be interested in returning to his former school.

While many programs are swinging for the fences, Oregon may be best off going with a coach that is willingly to stay for the long haul after Cristobal jumped abruptly for his former school.