When it comes to hiring a college football head coach, there are numerous factors that an athletic department and hiring committee must consider.
In the new world, it involves how a coach can manage a roster where players are earning different amounts of money through NIL. There is if the coach (and his family) are the right fit for the school and geographical area. And, there is also the age-old question: will he win?
With nine schools, including Auburn, currently seeking their new head coach, I've compiled my own ranking of the best available jobs. The SEC takes four out of the top five, so it is going to be a wild month in the conference. 247Sports took a look at the spending power of all nine program, and Auburn has some work to do.
1. LSU
Much like Auburn did with Bryan Harsin, LSU discovered that a cultural fit is crucial from your head coach. Brian Kelly never fit that in Baton Rouge, and it was apparent from the very beginning.
The money won't be a problem, as the Tigers have the third-largest NIL for this past season at $20.1 million. Find the right coach, and winning will come back to Red Stick.
2. Florida
Between your Steve Spurriers and Urban Meyers, we have seen many coaches go into Gainesville and fail. The latest is Billy Napier, who staved off his firing by a rally late last season, but couldn't overcome a bad start to the 2025 season, including a home loss to USF.
Much like LSU, the money is there, as the Gators are eighth in NIL with $15.8 million. It's an attractive job for many reasons.
3. Penn State
James Franklin won in State College, but never the big one, and after 11 years of being on the losing side of marquee matchups, Penn State had had enough with him. While Penn State definitely has a legacy, it's not the easiest place to get to, which might deter some recruits.
Still, it's a top-10 program with a substantial amount of money ($13.8 million in NIL this year) to allocate.
4. Arkansas
Whoever takes over the Razorbacks' job, and right now, it doesn't seem likely it will be Bobby Petrino, should ask for the John Calipari package when it comes to NIL money. Tyson Farms and Walmart rule Fayetteville, and there is plenty of cash there for the Razorbacks to build a winner, though they haven't seen a 10-win season since 2011. The NIL, $11.5 million in 2025, will certainly rise with a new hire.
5. Auburn
The positives? A passionate and loyal fan base that is yearning for a coach to come in and get the Tigers back to winning ways. The negatives? Keeping all the talent currently on the roster is going to be an almost impossible task. Still, the positives outweigh the negatives when it comes to a coach taking the job on the Plains, among them the fact that you can't do much worse than the previous two hires.
If Auburn wants to win with the big boys, the NIL better rise, as the Tigers rank 16th in 2025 with $11.6 million.
6. Virginia Tech
Much like Penn State, it's not the easiest place to get to. Unlike the Nittany Lions, the Hokies no longer have the prestige they once had when Frank Beamer was winning big there.
It wouldn't take much to rebuild and become a power in what is a weak ACC. But do recruits still want to go to Virginia Tech? I'm not sure. The $7.7 million in NIL money does help, though.
7. Oklahoma State
Being left behind in the watered-down Big 12 didn't help the Cowboys, nor did the fact that Mike Gundy seemed to lose his command of the program. Still, it is a desirable job that has its perks, but the NIL ($5.3 million) is not exactly there.
8. UCLA
Second fiddle in terms of college football teams in Los Angeles, and about ten fiddles behind the rest of the sports teams that litter the city's landscape. A 75-percent-empty Rose Bowl isn't going to attract any recruits to the Bruins, so they must rely on NIL ($5.9 million in 2025) and hiring a coach who can recruit kids with a clear vision.
9. Stanford
A great hire would understand the type of player the Cardinal can attract, given the high academic requirements. Andrew Luck, Stanford's general manager, could find a man like Clark Lea who has helped Vanderbilt become a worthy competitor in the SEC.