One week into the college football season, and the coaching carousel is already spinning out of control. The latest name to enter the rumor mill? Brian Kelly, who hasn't even been on a sideline in months.
Kelly, 64, has a resume that speaks for itself: a 92-39 record at Notre Dame, a national title game appearance, and a rebuild job at LSU that ended with a 34-14 mark. But after being fired by the Tigers, he's been working as a TV analyst—and apparently, that hasn't stopped fans from connecting him to one of the hottest seats in the country.
That seat belongs to Rutgers' Greg Schiano, whose squad suffered a jaw-dropping loss to UMass on Thursday night. The Scarlet Knights were 29-point favorites against a team riding a 16-game losing streak, and they still found a way to lose. It was the kind of defeat that gets coaches fired, and Rutgers fans have already made up their minds.
Social media erupted with calls for Schiano's ouster, and in the same breath, fans began floating Kelly's name as the perfect replacement. The idea isn't as far-fetched as it sounds. Kelly has a history of turning around struggling programs—he did it at Central Michigan, elevated Cincinnati to national prominence, and revived Notre Dame. Rutgers, a program that's been stuck in the Big Ten basement for years, could be his next project.
“Rutgers and Brian Kelly are going to fit like a glove next season,” one fan tweeted.
Another added: “Tbh, I think Brian Kelly can do well at Rutgers. While he didn’t win at LSU, he did turnaround a bad Central Michigan program, elevated Cincinnati into a household name and brought back Notre Dame to national relevance.”
Not everyone is sold, though. “Brian Kelly at Rutgers would be hilarious, but I mean he can’t be too picky if he’s wanting to coach again,” a third fan chimed in.
Kelly hasn't closed the door on a return to coaching. In March, he said he was open to the right opportunity, noting that he wanted to see some changes in the sport before committing. “I don’t know that I’ve made the decision that I want to get back in, as all the things we’ve talked about, I’d want to see some changes,” he said via On3. “But I think while you wait, you need to work.”
He also mentioned he'd be visiting spring practices to get a feel for the current landscape, especially with NIL and the transfer portal reshaping the game. For now, Kelly is part of CBS Sports' college football coverage, but the rumor mill isn't waiting. If Rutgers does make a move, Kelly's name will be at the top of the list.
It's still early, and Schiano could rally his team, but the pressure is mounting. If Rutgers decides to make a change, they might not have to look far for a coach with a proven track record. And for Kelly, a return to the Big Ten might be the perfect comeback story. Only time will tell if this match made in fan-fiction becomes reality.
