I don't really see how a Fickel hire is pragmatically feasible.

Barring an upset loss to UH, Cincy will be in the playoffs. So the very earliest he could be hired is next week. But the much more likely scenario is that his season won't end until early January. He certainly won't distract his team in the lead up to the most important game in his coaching career by announcing a move to another school. He may not even be willing to endure the distractions of meetings and negotiations with suitors. And even if LSU could extract a non-binding verbal commitment, nothing would prevent Fickel from deciding to stay at Cincinatti after the playoffs, either because he is building a program there (and just made the playoffs) or because he wants to wait for other attractive openings. Meanwhile, at least six weeks of recruiting would be wasted with no operative head coach. And if LSU waits weeks for Fickel and he doesn't materialize, LSU will have limited other options.

Without an upset loss to UH, it doesn't seem practicable.