Rece Davis set the tone on ESPN’s College GameDay podcast on Monday, weighing the pros and cons of college football’s best available job before selecting the LSU Tigers just over Florida and Penn State as the best coaching job after the firings of Brian Kelly, Billy Napier and James Franlin. The call arrived in the heart of a rare midseason coaching carousel, with multiple power programs changing course and interim leaders steadying the week-to-week routine. The context matters because candidates weigh more than tradition when ranking destinations.
Davis approached the question like a search firm would. He considered resources, conference demands, roster building and the path to the College Football Playoff. He also recognized that the top tier is tight, with Florida and Penn State offering real upside depending on a coach’s preferences.
What separated LSU, in Davis’ view, is the combination of money access, recruiting map and day-one title expectations. He pointed to Louisiana’s singular pipeline, the lack of in-state Power 4 competition and a fan base conditioned to chase trophies. That mixture, he said, nudges LSU ahead, even if the margin is thin.
Davis’ explanation was direct and detailed. “I would take LSU, probably by a hair over the other two. They are all really good jobs,” he said, noting how fit can hinge on what a coach wants from support, recruiting and weekly competition. He emphasized LSU’s in-state advantage and the ready access to financial backing for players and staff, which together create an immediate springboard to contention.
Florida stayed close in his ranking. Davis referenced a history that often requires a transcendent personality to sustain success, yet he acknowledged the scale of the platform and its resources. That blend keeps Florida in the top cluster for coaches who can align recruiting, development and retention quickly.
Former LSU head coach Brian Kelly was fired after the Tigers’ 49-25 loss to Texas A&M and a 2-3 start to SEC play. / Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Penn State received its share of credit as well. Davis highlighted the Big Ten route to the playoff and a week-to-week grind that differs from the SEC. The middle class of that league, he said, is not the same as the SEC’s, which can ease the path in certain seasons. The Nittany Lions’ infrastructure, fan base and consistent proximity to breakthrough seasons keep the job attractive.
In the end, Davis framed the gap as narrow. LSU earns the slightest edge because its recruiting base, funding access and championship expectations intersect cleanly, which is exactly how candidates stack opportunities during a crowded cycle.
