The largest domino of college football's coaching carousel unexpectedly fell on Sunday, when Auburn fired coach Gus Malzahn after eight seasons.
Malzahn, who finished with a record of 68-34 and reached the BCS National Championship Game in his first season in 2013, will be owed $21.7 million to buy out the remainder of his contract.
While Auburn stands in the shadows of SEC juggernaut Alabama in its own state, it's still one of the more attractive FBS jobs in the country because of its resources, tradition and recruiting base.
Where might the Tigers turn to replace Malzahn? Here are some of the candidates who will likely be considered:
Hugh Freeze
Age: 51
Current position: Head coach, Liberty
Why he's a fit at Auburn: Freeze took over woebegone Ole Miss and went 39-25 from 2012 to 2016. He guided the Rebels to four straight bowl games, including the Peach Bowl in 2014 and Sugar Bowl in '15, the first times they had played in major bowls since 1970. While at Ole Miss, Freeze was considered one of the SEC's best recruiters (see more below) and unexpectedly signed a top-five recruiting class in 2013. His teams also defeated Alabama in back-to-back seasons in 2014-15; he joined Steve Spurrier and Les Miles as the only coaches whose teams beat Nick Saban-led teams in consecutive seasons. Freeze has a 17-6 record in two seasons at Liberty, including a 9-1 mark this year.
Why he's not a fit at Auburn: Freeze's tenure at Ole Miss ended in disgrace in July 2017, when he resigned after university officials found a pattern that included phone calls to a number associated with a female escort service. In December 2017, the NCAA placed Ole Miss on three years' probation for rules violations mostly committed during Freeze's tenure. The Rebels were banned from playing in the postseason in 2018 (the school had self-imposed a ban in '17) and faced scholarship reductions and other recruiting restrictions. Freeze received a two-game conference suspension from the NCAA for failure to monitor his staff. Hiring Freeze might be a risky hire for Auburn, which is currently awaiting adjudication of Level I rule violations involving its men's basketball team.
Mario Cristobal
Age: 50
Current position: Head coach, Oregon
Why he's a fit at Auburn: From 2013 to 2016, Cristobal was Alabama's assistant head coach, offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. The Crimson Tide's recruiting classes were ranked No. 1 in the FBS in each of his four seasons in charge. Cristobal played high school and college football in Miami, which has traditionally been a good pipeline for Auburn. After a so-so head-coaching debut at Florida International from 2007-12, Cristobal has been more than solid at Oregon, where he is 24-9 in three-plus seasons. He guided the Ducks to a 12-2 record, Pac-12 championship and Rose Bowl victory in 2019.
Why he's not a fit at Auburn: Cristobal has no connections to the Auburn program, which might be what the Tigers need. The Tigers will owe Malzahn a $21.7 million buyout, including 50% ($10.85 million) within the next 30 days. The Tigers would likely be on the hook for Cristobal's buyout at Oregon; he would owe the school $8 million if he left before January, and $5 million if he left after the New Year.
Billy Napier
Age: 41
Current position: Head coach, Louisiana
Why he's a fit at Auburn: Napier worked under two of the game's most successful coaches, first under Dabo Swinney at Clemson in 2009-10 and then under Saban at Alabama from 2013-16. In his first head-coaching position, Napier has a 27-11 record in three seasons at Louisiana, including a 20-4 mark the past two. The Ragin' Cajuns are headed toward a third straight bowl game. Napier has been patient while waiting for his next job; he previously turned down interest from Arkansas, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and South Carolina. He's an exceptional recruiter, helping sign players like Tajh Boyd at Clemson and Jerry Jeudy, Calvin Ridley and Cam Robinson at Alabama.
Why he's not a fit at Auburn: Napier has only three-plus years of head-coaching experience and is a little less experienced compared to a few of the other candidates.
Lane Kiffin
Age: 45
Current position: Head coach, Ole Miss
Why he's a fit at Auburn: He might be the perfect remedy for Auburn's elephant-sized ailments: He's fearless as a playcaller, is outspoken in the media and on social media, loves to needle Saban (his former boss), and can recruit with the best of them. Plus, Kiffin has a track record of getting the most out of his talent. The Rebels lead the SEC in total offense (563 yards) and rushing (206.5 yards) and rank third in scoring (39.8 points) and passing (356.5 yards). He has a 65-38 record in five-plus seasons at four schools -- Tennessee, USC, Florida Atlantic and Ole Miss. As Alabama's offensive coordinator, Kiffin helped the Tide finish 14-1 and win the CFP national championship in 2015.
Why he's not a fit at Auburn: Kiffin is wrapping up his first season at Ole Miss. He left after only one year at a previous stop, when he bolted Tennessee following the 2009 season to become USC's new coach. Ole Miss fans probably shouldn't worry too much -- unless Kiffin mentions how they'll have to "carry me out of here in a pine box." Kiffin relished the spotlight and controversy earlier in his career, but he seems to have mellowed a bit with age. Sources tell ESPN that Kiffin's buyout from Ole Miss would be $5 million.
Steve Sarkisian
Age: 46
Current position: Offensive coordinator, Alabama
Why he's a fit at Auburn: A lack of production and points was ultimately Malzahn's undoing, and Sarkisian has directed one of the most explosive offenses in college football history at Alabama. The Crimson Tide averaged 46.6 points and 548.3 yards per game while going 10-0 in the SEC. Consistent quarterback play was also a sore spot under Malzahn; Sarkisian coached Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones at Alabama. He went 46-35 combined during coaching stints at Washington and USC. By hiring Sarkisian, Auburn would leave a gaping hole in Saban's program.
Why he's not a fit at Auburn: His tenure at USC ended badly, when then-athletic director Pat Haden fired him because of alcohol problems. At the time, ESPN reported that Haden had placed Sarkisian on a zero-tolerance policy regarding alcohol use. He entered rehab following his dismissal. If Auburn elected to go with Sarkisian, it might have to wait until after the Jan. 11 title game for him to take over full time if the Crimson Tide were to win a CFP semifinal game.
Mike Gundy
Age: 53
Current position: Head coach, Oklahoma State
Why he's a fit at Auburn: Like Kiffin, Gundy isn't afraid to speak his mind. His personality and coaching style might be a good fit at Auburn, which is off the beaten path like Stillwater, Oklahoma. Gundy has a 135-67 record at his alma mater from 2005 to 2020.
Why he's not a fit at Auburn: While Gundy has flirted with jobs like Tennessee in the past, he always seemed reluctant to leave OSU, where he played quarterback. His teams have lost at least three games in each season since winning a lone Big 12 championship in 2011. In June, Gundy angered star tailback Chuba Hubbard and other OSU players when a photo emerged of Gundy wearing an One America Network T-shirt. Gundy apologized for wearing the shirt. A university investigation concluded that Gundy needed to "invest more time in building stronger relationships with his student-athletes," but "uncovered no signs or indication of racism," athletic director Mike Holder said at the time.
Tom Allen
Age: 50
Current position: Head coach, Indiana
Why he's a fit at Auburn: Allen has produced one of the best stories during the COVID-19 pandemic season, guiding the Hoosiers to a 6-1 record and No. 12 ranking in the College Football Playoff selection committee standings. Indiana is in position to play in its first major bowl game since the 1967 Rose Bowl.
Why he's not a fit at Auburn: Outside of a three-year stint as Freeze's linebackers coach and special-teams coordinator at Ole Miss from 2012-14, he doesn't have much experience in the SEC. Allen was born and raised in Indiana, where his father was a highly successful high school coach. Could he succeed in recruiting in the cutthroat SEC?
Dan Quinn
Age: 50
Current position: Unemployed
Why he's a fit at Auburn: Quinn was regarded as one of football's best defensive minds while working as the Seahawks' defensive coordinator in 2013-14. After the Falcons hired him as head coach, he guided the team to Super Bowl LI in his second season in 2016. He had a 43-42 record in five-plus seasons with the Falcons, who fired him after an 0-5 start this year. Quinn last worked as a college coach as Florida's defensive coordinator in 2011-12.
Why he's not a fit at Auburn: Quinn has never been a college head coach and spent all but two of the past 20 years working in the NFL. Does he have the necessary drive and energy to return to the recruiting trail?
Brent Venables
Age: 49
Current position: Defensive coordinator, Clemson
Why he's a fit at Auburn: Long regarded as one of the game's best defensive coordinators, Venables has coached in eight national championship games at Oklahoma and Clemson, helping the Sooners win a BCS title in 2000 and the Tigers claim CFP titles in 2016 and '18. In 25 years as a full-time assistant coach, his teams have produced 25 winning campaigns and won 10 games or more 20 times. Clemson is on pace to finish in the top 10 in total defense for the seventh straight season, the longest active streak in the FBS.
Why he's not a fit at Auburn: For all of his success, Venables has never been a head coach. He has never shown much interest in various openings, going back to his days as an Oklahoma assistant under Bob Stoops. He has two sons currently playing at Clemson -- freshman safety Tyler and sophomore linebacker Jake. His five-year contract is scheduled to pay him $2.4 million in each of the final two years.
Tony Elliott
Age: 41
Current position: Offensive coordinator, Clemson
Why he's a fit at Auburn: Clemson's dominance under Swinney started when Elliott returned to his alma mater as a full-time coach in 2011. He was co-offensive coordinator during national-championship-winning seasons in 2016 and '18, and he was named the Frank Broyles Award winner as the top assistant in the FBS in 2017. In 2018, his offense set Clemson single-season records for rushing yards (3,723), yards per carry (6.55) and rushing touchdowns (49). One of the sport's top recruiters, he helped lure tailback Travis Etienne to Clemson.
Why he's not a fit at Auburn: Like Venables, Elliott has never been a head coach and has shown a reluctance to leave Clemson. He has turned down interest from Vanderbilt, South Carolina and other programs in the past. He has also been linked to vacant jobs in the NFL.
Kevin Steele
Age: 62
Current position: Interim coach and defensive coordinator, Auburn
Why he's a fit at Auburn: Steele, who was named the team's interim coach after Malzahn's firing, has been Auburn's defensive coordinator since 2016. Over the past few seasons, Steele's unit was what kept the Tigers afloat when the offense struggled. When Auburn won the SEC West in 2017, it ranked 14th in the FBS in total defense and 12th in scoring defense. Steele was a Broyles Award finalist. A former assistant at Tennessee, Alabama and LSU, Steele is very familiar with the league and has the support of some influential boosters.
Why he's not a fit at Auburn: The Tigers might prefer a clean break from the Malzahn era, which started hot and fizzled at the end. Steele has been a head coach only once; he went 9-36 at Baylor from 1999-2002.
ESPN reporters Chris Low and Adam Rittenberg contributed to this story.