LSU Football: The new leading option to replace Ed Orgeron?

As we enter the month of November, it appears there’s a new leader in LSU football‘s search to replace Ed Orgeron.

The Tigers and Orgeron agreed last month to part ways after the 2021 season.

Orgeron, however, is coaching the team through the rest of the season.

LSU almost certainly won’t hire a coach until the season is over. But that doesn’t mean the coaching search is dormant.

Tigers athletic director Scott Woodward is working hard to vet candidates and narrow down his list before the end of November (you know, when the coaching carousel goes in full motion).

A new leading option in LSU football’s search to replace Ed Orgeron?

While there’s still probably at least a few weeks before we’ll know who LSU’s coach will be in 2022, there’s still plenty of speculation on who it will be.

With just a month left in the season, it’s starting to feel like Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker could be the best option (that’s realistic) for the Tigers.

Tucker, who served as LSU’s defensive backs coach in 2000, has an impressive resume that’s grown stronger this season.

The former Wisconsin defensive back has Michigan State at 8-0 this season. This past weekend, the Spartans knocked off No. 6 Michigan.

Tucker has nearly everything you could want in a candidate. He’s coached under Nick Saban and Kirby Smart. He has NFL experience (he was even the interim head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars for five games in 2011). And he has Power-5 head coaching experience (Colorado and Michigan State).

If Tucker could put together a great offensive SEC staff, I think he could be competing for a national championship almost immediately in Baton Rouge (the Tigers are still loaded with elite talent,).

I’m not saying Tucker is the absolute best option to replace Orgeron. But I think when you consider availability, past results, and experience, he could be the best option that’s realistic.

(By the way, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin fell down the list a bit this past week after losing to Auburn and first-year SEC head coach Bryan Harsin).

The last time LSU hired Michigan State’s head coach it turned out pretty well. Why not give it another go?