After a few years away from the sidelines, former national champion coach Ed Orgeron reportedly gets the itch to return. His massive $17-million buyout from LSU is set to expire in December, and analysts are connecting the dots.
With the money tap turning off, speculation is heating up that “Coach O” could be on a headset again soon, with potential interest from both Pac-12 and Big Ten programs. The big question is, where could he land?
Why Is Ed Orgeron Eyeing a Return to the Sidelines?
During a “CBS Sports HQ” segment on Thursday, college football analyst Richard Johnson discussed several high-profile coaches who could make a comeback, including Orgeron, former Florida State champion coach Jimbo Fisher, and ex-Super Bowl winner Jon Gruden. Johnson believes Orgeron’s situation is unique and that financial motivations fuel his interest in returning for the 2026 college football season.
“Well, I think Ed is interesting as a concept as a coach right now because yes, he’s got a national championship in the case, but what he has versus Jimbo (Fisher) is his buyout money runs out in December,” Johnson said. “So, he wants to get back in because them checks have are about to stop coming, I should say.”
Johnson also pointed to the 64-year-old’s recent comments as a sign of his eagerness to get back into the game, noting that Orgeron expressed interest in returning even if it’s just as a defensive line coach.
“I think he’s probably pretty bored. I think he’s probably tired of hanging out at the beach. I think he wants to be with a team,” he said. “I think he’s still young enough in his early 60s that he still thinks he has a little bit left in him to deliver.”
Read More: 5 Landing Spots for Ed Orgeron as Former LSU HC Mounts Comeback Campaign
Johnson suggested that Orgeron’s boredom and desire to coach again could lead him to a West Coast team like UCLA or Oregon State, possibly for the 2026-27 season. However, fellow analyst Danny Kanell thinks his best fit might be a different role. Kanell argued that Orgeron still has the energy to be an excellent defensive line coach, stating that every team needs a motivator to fire up the squad.
He sees the veteran tactician as a perfect match for any “Group of Five” program that could leverage his famous name for national attention. Despite this, Kanell questioned whether Orgeron is suited for a Power Four team in the current college football landscape. Orgeron previously served as a head coach at Ole Miss (2005-07), USC (2013), and LSU (2016-21), compiling a career record of 67-47, which included an impressive 51-20 mark with the Tigers.
His crowning achievement came in 2019, when he guided LSU to a perfect 15-0 season, culminating in a 42-25 victory over Clemson to win the College Football Playoff National Championship. He and the university agreed to part ways at the end of the 2021 season following a 6-6 record.
