Round and round we go. The college football world was shaken up this week as some of the most famous coaches made some surprising multimillion-dollar team changes. Sports enthusiast Roman gives us all the juicy details about these mind blowing deals. — Jessica Denyer, Editor

By Roman Rickwood, Sports Enthusiast

As the regular season for college football comes to a close, we are left with far more questions than answers. The biggest questions that had to be answered all surrounded the issue of coaching. There were two big coaching jobs open, USC’s and LSU’s. These programs are historic and are known for producing some of the best players in the NFL. It was only two years ago that LSU found themselves National Champions, destroying everyone in their path by significant margins. However, that success was short-lived as many of their players went on to the NFL (where they continue to dominate). There has been much speculation on who would take over the helm at LSU; however, we did not hear much about who USC would hire. 

USC in my opinion went out and made a statement, and I truly believe it will be the hire that takes them back to the top of college football. USC hired Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley early Monday morning, and he landed in LA later that day. He had one of the more mind-blowing contracts, and it is now obvious why he made the move. USC offered a contract that allegedly includes a 121-million-dollar contract (roughly 12 million dollars a year); the university purchased both of his homes in Oklahoma for roughly $500,000 over asking price (a million dollar bonus); and, to help him settle in to the city of angels, the university bought him a 6-million-dollar house in Los Angeles. If he ever gets bored of LA, the university also granted him 24/7 access to the university’s private jet. If this was not enough incentive for Lincoln Riley, he has ready access to a conference championship every year and a significantly easier path to making the playoffs. Oklahoma, on the other hand, will join the hardest conference in the country starting next year. Overall, I believe USC will be back in the national conversation in less than three years. When a coach like Lincoln Riley is at the helm, he will surely attract the best of the best–coaches and players. 

The biggest surprise move by coaches, however, was Brian Kelly being named as the next football coach of LSU. Brian Kelly has been in the midwest his entire coaching career, and this season he earned the record of winningest football coach in Notre Dame history. While his contract details are not explicit, I believe this move has far less to do with money and more to do with winning a national championship. At Notre Dame it is incredibly difficult to compete in the playoffs as Notre Dame is one of two schools who does not participate in any league. As well, the significant academic standards required of Notre Dame athletes are rigorous. While I do not know how this move will work out, it is obvious that Brian Kelly is a world-class football coach and has made Notre Dame what it is today. I am a little intrigued to see how a coach like Brian Kelly will do recruiting in the Deep South against some of the greatest recruiters in the country. I believe that this could turn into a University of Florida issue, where they had a phenomenal coach, but the coach was unable to get elite players. 

While these hires may have answered the question for two historic football powerhouses as to who will steer the ship, it leaves questions for the two programs losing their coaches. Oklahoma has lost most of its assistant coaches, as they were brought to LA with Lincoln Riley. I can only speculate that Notre Dame will hire within their organization, or will hire a coach with strong connections within the Catholic world. As for Oklahoma, boy, it is going to be a rough next couple of years. When they lost their coach they lost a ton of incoming talent, as happens anytime a coach takes another job. Not to mention Oklahoma begins competing in the SEC next year, and has to compete week in and week out against some of the best teams in the country. I imagine these programs are hoping for the best, expecting the worst.