Dan Mullen, Tom Herman linked to Auburn offensive coordinator job

The college football world has been drunk, if not downright plastered, since the 2021 regular season ended. Well besides the COVID-19 postponement that rescheduled USC-Cal to this coming Saturday. With numerous head coaching changes to major programs, like LSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and USC, dominating headlines, even Auburn football has gotten into the action.

Yesterday, it was announced that first-year offensive coordinator Mike Bobo will be relieved of his duties after a season in which many questioned his play-calls, inconsistent usage of star running back Tank Bigsby, and flat-out refusal to allow redshirt freshman Dematrius Davis to get snaps under center.

Now, many are speculating as to who his replacement might be, and some huge names have been floated around.

The Opelika-Auburn News’ listed ten candidates for the role, highlighted by two recent Power Five coaches from two of the nation’s most recognizable universities.

Tom Herman and Dan Mullen linked to the Auburn football OC opening

Tom Herman, a current offensive analyst for the Chicago Bears and the previous Texas head coach before Steve Sarkisian’s bowl ineligible 2021 run, and Dan Mullen, the recently fired Florida head coach, were the two standout candidates for the job.

Both oversaw dynamic offenses in 2020 that folded against top defenses in 2021. Of course, Herman is not to blame for what happened this year, and Texas fans may even want a mulligan on his firing after learning that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of a 54-22 overall head coaching record.

Either option would provide plenty of national media fodder, including the cliched and inevitable “will ___ eventually replace Bryan Harsin?” trope.

You ask me? Ole Miss OC Jeff Lebby would be the best drama-free hire given his track record at Ole Miss and UCF.

But either way, change is coming on the Plains for the Auburn football coaching staff, and it’s fair to say that a majority of fans are set to welcome it.