Putting together all the rumors and suspicious lack of credible leaks:

The deal is done - I believe this, otherwise there’d be leaks from any coaches Woodward talked to but didn’t offer. Therefore, he’s not talking to anyone because deal is done.

Riley - hottest name on boards and Twitter, yet still no firm denial from Lincoln which is suspicious. Easy for Woody to have Verge or someone “leak” to Feldman that Riley said no in order to keep the heat off. I think he’s the most likely.

Jimbo - unlike Riley there was no effort to take the heat off when his name was poppin’, leading him to make a pretty firm denial. Also he’s recruiting like gangbusters. Seems very unlikely.

Aranda - several reports out there that he hasn’t even been contacted. He wasn’t a hot property when the search started, so maybe Woody never bothered because the deal was done by the time Aranda heated up. I think he’s the #1 fallback at best.

Matt Campbell - this one stinks of an agent pumping his guy during a disappointing season by throwing his name in the ring. No credible report of any contact. Seems far-fetched.

Bob Stoops - just ridiculous, not in a million years, obvious agent pump job for a new contract using some gullible media.

Mel Tucker - signed his new deal after blown out by Ohio St. If he’d kept winning, I think he’d have Aranda’s spot as the #1 backup.

Franklin - early word was he wasn’t receptive or was playing hard to get back when he was winning. I think he may have got an early call, but immediately started losing so focus went elsewhere. Now has new deal.

Lane Kiffin - should have gotten more interest but apparently didn’t get a sniff. I suspect Saban bad-mouthed him to Woodward. Florida ought to hire him - he’s Spurrier 2.0.

Petersen - if he was the guy he’d be hired by now.

Napier - if he was the guy he’d be hired by now. At best the last ditch backup.

Matt Rhule - the wildcard. Maybe, just maybe, he’s the guy who’s ink is dry. Things are rough in Carolina and he has no path to getting a good QB (similar to Saban at Dolphins). Would be a big name out of left field, a la Jay Johnson. I actually think he’s only slightly less likely than Riley, especially if you give credence to Feldman

INB4 In other words, I know nothing.

Edited to add:

Luke Fickell - has there been any smoke? Would be way out of left field, like Rhule, but his career restricted to Ohio and the likelihood Cincinnati makes the playoffs takes him off the board.

Brian Kelly - also no smoke at all, at the older end of the candidate spectrum, and has very little reason to leave Notre Dame where the trigger finger is not as twitchy.

Nick Satan - LMFAO

Urban Meyer - seems lass likely than Rhule to bolt from NFL, it’s only been one season and he has a QB. Also, He’s always “retired” and taken a break after quitting jobs in order to milk a little sympathy, would he really jump straight to LSU or USC? Plus the video.

You guys see any flaws in this reasoning?

This post was edited on 11/25/21 at 6:49 am