LSU Football could hire college football’s next Nick Saban

LSU football is currently searching for a new head coach to replace Ed Orgeron, who won’t return to Baton Rouge after the 2021 season.

And they might be in a position where they could hire college football’s next version of Nick Saban.

This could be a unique opportunity for LSU to hire a coach that could take the program to the next level.

I’m talking about current Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule.

Could Matt Rhule be the next Nick Saban?

Rhule is in his second season as the Panthers’ head coach, but things aren’t going well for him.

After going 5-11 in 2020, Rhule is currently 3-4 with four straight losses.

At this point, it’s hard to imagine Rhule being a long-term fixture in Carolina. NFL head coaches don’t get much time to turn a franchise around.

Rhule might see the writing on the wall and decide to head back to the college game, where he was quite successful as a head coach.

Rhule turned Temple into a respectable program, before taking over at Baylor and leading the Bears to an 11 win season in 2019.

Fox Sport’s Joel Klatt suggested this week that Rhule isn’t sold on staying in the NFL.

There’s no doubt that Rhule, who played college football at Penn State, is a good coach. He’s just not cut out for the NFL. It’s a similar trajectory to Saban, who tried his luck in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins and left after two seasons.

Rhule is simply better suited for the college game. And I think he could do great things at an SEC program. He’s a personable guy who could thrive on the recruiting trail, while also effectively serving as the “CEO” of LSU’s program (which is exactly what the Tigers need right now).

I’m not saying Rhule is a can’t fail option for LSU, but I think he’s someone who should be high on athletic director Scott Woodward’s list of potential replacements for Orgeron.