re: Per NOLA.com. Jimbo and O are the leading candidates

If it really is down to those two I think this is the scenario:

Alleva and co have already done their search and likely Herman is going to Texas. The remaining candidates are too high risk and they don't want to bring in a guy that will shake up the staff and weigh the program down if he doesn't succeed. That includes Fedora, Fleck and a lot of the other high risk guys. If Jimbo ultimately turns LSU down then they intend to keep O on a incentive heavy contract that allows them to part ways if he falters and/or a "home run hire" emerges a couple years down the road.

I just think the choices were Jimbo and Herman and Herman is now off the table (going to Texas). So either Jimbo or O as a stop gap until they get the guy they want.

Pure speculation, but JMHO.