Texas A&M Aggies Coaching Hot Board: Who Are Top Candidates To Replace Fired Jimbo Fisher?

Here are 10 names that could be at the forefront of every conversation to replace Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher in 2024.

Ross Bjork will have a busy couple of days ahead, but only one day changes the course of Texas A&M Aggies football.

The Aggies have fired Jimbo Fisher after six seasons in College Station. The news comes after Texas A&M defeated Mississippi State 51-10 on Saturday at Kyle Field and earned bowl eligibility for the first time since 2021.

Fisher, 58, still has eight years remaining on his contract with a buyout expected to be over $75 million. After signing a 10-year, $75 million contract in December 2017, he received an updated deal of 10 years, $95 million fully guaranteed in September 2021.

A&M seemed more than ready to move off Fisher following close losses to Alabama, Tennessee, and Ole Miss this season. Changes were made to the coaching staff after a 5-7 finish in 2022, primarily the offensive play concept under Fisher. And while the numbers improved under first-year coordinator Bobby Petrino, results stayed the same. 

So, where do the Aggies go from here? Who's capable of giving the Aggies what they’ve desperately lingered for in the SEC? Is there a coach who can compete alongside Nick Saban, Kirby Smart and others? 

Can anyone bring the Aggies their first conference title since 1998? How about the first national title since 1939? 

Mike Elko - Duke head coach

Elko will be one of the hottest names on the market due to his background with the program. He served as Texas A&M’s defensive coordinator from 2018-21 before leaving for Durham after helping the Aggies finish with a top-three scoring defense. 

In two seasons, Elko’s won 14 games at a program known for being the laughing stock of the ACC. His defense ranks top-25 in scoring and has held its own in big games. He's also one of the nation's top recruiters and was influential in helping A&M land the No. 1 recruiting class in 2022. 

It's been clear that Elko would be considered a favorite for the position if the job became available. Is he still the top name to take over now that the job is open? 

Lane Kiffin - Ole Miss head coach

Kiffin was one of the top candidates to replace Bryan Harsin at Auburn last season. Is he in line to take over in College Station? The Rebels might have lost to Georgia, but they're on the verge of finishing with 10 regular season wins for the second time in program history. 

Kiffin's reached the pinnacle in Oxford. He's brought the program to national relevancy, but can he ever achieve conference championship stardom? Are 10 wins and a New Year's Six Bowl appearance the best for a program not known for its recruiting power? 

From a coaching standpoint, Kiffin's a top-10 name in the industry. Bjork also served as Ole Miss' athletic director before he arrived at Texas A&M, though his replacement, Keith Carter, hired Kiffin from Florida Atlantic.

Mike Norvell - Florida State head coach

There's no way A&M goes back to Tallahassee again, right? Maybe not, but Fisher and Norvell are in entirely different places from their time with the Seminoles. 

Norvell took over for Willie Taggart after the Seminoles went 9-12 during his tenure. He struggled through the first two seasons while establishing a culture, but the Seminoles are 20-3 in their last two years and are on the verge of winning the ACC for the first time since Fisher roamed the sidelines. 

Florida State is undefeated. Its three wins away from claiming a conference title, and five wins away from winning its first national championship since 2013 under Fisher. Keep in mind the program has been exceptional when it comes to winning both on the recruiting trail and in the transfer portal, too. 

Norvell has it made in the ACC, but the SEC is a different beast. It's more opportunities, more national recognition, and more money. Florida State is locked in with the ACC for the foreseeable future due to its media rights contract. Would this give Norvell a reason to raise the asking price and create a bidding war? 

Texas A&M quarterback Max Johnson (14) is yelled to by Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher during a football game between Tennessee and Texas A&M at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday :: Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK

Dan Lanning - Oregon head coach

He's the hottest young coach on the market and everybody knows it — including Oregon, who put a $20 million buyout in Lanning’s deal after losing Taggart and Mario Cristobal to "bigger programs." Lanning might be 37, but he has the Ducks playing like national championship contenders. Bo Nix might be the Heisman favorite and Oregon seems ready to compete in the College Football Playoff behind a stout offensive line and defensive front seven. 

A $20 million buyout seems decadent, but the Aggies just paid $76 million not to have Fisher on the sidelines. They're playing with monopoly money at this point. Lanning is an elite recruiter and is not just a Saban disciple but also learned under the teachings of Kirby Smart. 

Would Lanning depart Eugune for the SEC if Oregon remained in the Pac-12? Perhaps. Now in the Big Ten, that could change the program's persona at the national level. 

Kalen DeBoer - Washington head coach

Everything said about Lanning — minus the age — could be copied and pasted for DeBoer. He's 21-2 in two seasons with the Huskies, has a Heisman-caliber quarterback that reinvented his career, and was able to convince countless players to stay in Seattle after Jimmy Lake was fired. 

DeBoer, 49, who still has a chance of winning a Pac-12 title and earning a College Football Playoff berth, would only cost $12 million in a buyout. The Aggies have more than enough money to afford that, and DeBeor's background of selling a program could do wonders for keeping players in College Station. 

Much like Lanning, however, DeBoer has options, including staying at the helm of a competitive program that'll look to contend next season in the Big Ten. 

Lance Leipold - Kansas head coach

Leipold has won everywhere, but his resurgence of Jayhawks football might be his crowning moment. Kansas won 20 games in 11 seasons under four different coaches. In three years with Leipold, the Jayhawks are 15-20 and bowl-eligible in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2007-08. 

Before landing in Lawrence, Leipold turned Buffalo around. Before that, he led Wisconsin-Whitewater to six Division III national titles during his eight seasons while winning 106 games. Michigan State and Northwestern are expected to be in the running for Leipold's services. Kansas, who's invested over $300 million into a new stadium, is also expected to offer Leipold a massive deal to stay. 

Could the Aggies outbid the trio?

Jeff Traylor - UTSA head coach

In the national eye, this wouldn't be a home run hire. In the eyes of those who know Texas football, few carry the pedigree of Traylor. 

Traylor's been exceptional at the helm as the Roadrunners' head coach. He’s 36-13 in three-plus seasons, and UTSA is currently 6-0 in American Athletic Conference play after changing leagues this past offseason. Prior to working under Charlie Strong at Texas, Traylor won three state titles at Gilmer High School and was a four-time Class 4A Texas high school Coach of the Year. 

Traylor's been linked to potential openings at Baylor, Houston, and Arkansas should the positions be made available, so he'll have options if the Aggies go in a different direction. Either way, his time in the Alamo City seems to be up, but he's earned the right to coach at the Power 5 level. 

Texas A&M Aggies Jimbo Fisher on the sidelines at Kyle Field  / © Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Jonathan Smith - Oregon State head coach

If A&M is looking for a culture builder, few have the chops like Smith. After leading the Beavers to an 11-1 record in 2000 as the starting quarterback, Smith led the program to relevancy as a head coach. Oregon State ranks No. 12 in the AP Poll and remains a dark horse to win the Pac-12. 

Offensively, the Beavers have found a rhythm, but their defense carries the load. They're coming off a 10-3 season and could finish with double-digit wins once more if they upset Washington and Oregon. And unlike DeBoer and Lanning, Smith is staying in the newly-formed Pac-2 alongside Washington State. 

Leaving an alma mater is tough, but could it be made easier with a significant pay raise to join a conference where it "Just Means More?" 

Urban Meyer - Fox commentator

No, he won't be the favorite, but Meyer's name will at least be thrown out there. He's won national titles at two different schools and is considered one of the best coaches in college football this century. 

Meyer flamed out in the NFL due to the league's management style. In the NIL era, where players make millions, college football is to be more similar to his time coaching the Jaguars than his time coaching at Ohio State or Florida. But Texas A&M has the money, resources, and ability to land premier talent. 

Is that enough for Meyer to play nice? Is he content working at FOX on the weekend?  

Dabo Swinney - Clemson head coach

Swing big like Tyler in Spartanburg, right? 

Swinney said on his radio show "Tiger Calls" earlier this month that if those in charge of Clemson were tired of him leading the program, he would "go somewhere else where there is an appreciation." And yes, it would be asinine to think a two-time national champion and all-time leader in wins would be made available, but then again, could he? 

Should Swinney and Clemson be headed toward a divorce, A&M would offer the opportunity to hit the reset button. And yes, whether he's lost a bit of flair, the Tigers' head man is one of six coaches all-time to beat Saban twice. Fisher only did it once, even though he came close in back-to-back years. 

Does this happen? Probably not. Then again, how many people thought Lincoln Riley would leave in the middle of the night for USC?