On Sunday, LSU fired head coach Brian Kelly. The school owes Kelly more than $53 million for his buyout, the second-largest in college football history behind former Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher.

Kiffin absolutely would mesh with Woodward's big-name affections. He'd fit LSU's needs, too. Unlike two of Woodward’s past football hires, Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M and Kelly at LSU, Kiffin’s career is trending up. His Rebels beat LSU twice in the past three seasons. He’s in his prime. His floor is lofty, his ceiling untapped.

BATON ROUGE, La. — LSU Athletics has made the decision to separate with football head coach Brian Kelly effective immediately, Director of Athletics Scott Woodward announced Sunday. Terms of the separation are still being negotiated.