Bruce Feldman lists two potential candidates for Auburn

Bryan Harsin has not officially left the Auburn program but the writing seems to be the writing on the wall. Saturday’s loss against Penn State seemed to be a new low for the program under Harsin and if there was ever a question about the head coach’s future — his fate seems sealed.

Although the job is not open just quite yet, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic listed two potential candidates for the Tigers. The first was one to come out of Nick Saban‘s coaching tree in Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. Hugh Freeze was the other and he has a longstanding connection to the SEC West as well.

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“If you’re (Auburn), do you make a run at Lane Kiffin? Who’s done a really good job in the same division,” Feldman said during Tuesday’s episode of The Paul Finebaum Show. “He knows Nick Saban’s program well. Do they try to consider Hugh Freeze? Who obviously knows that conference well.

Kiffin has spent the past three seasons with Ole Miss, having an 18-8 record in Oxford. He took the program to a Sugar Bowl last year and won 10 regular season games for the first time ever. He’s certainly upped the standard and would be a big name for Auburn.

As for Freeze, he’s been with Liberty since leaving Ole Miss. He’s had similar success as Kiffin, although at a lower level. Freeze’s past success within the conference, and even against Alabama, could be attractive.

Candidates will “listen” to Auburn since “it’s Auburn”

Feldman thinks Auburn will have a good list of candidates to choose from, even with all of the disadvantages the job has. He since the Auburn brand will be enough to get coaches to listen. The prior history of winning over the past decade-plus should help as well.

“I think there are plenty of good candidates who will listen because it’s Auburn. And people have won there and won big there. It’s just about how much stability is around you.”

If/when Harsin is let go from the Auburn job, that will not be the only search the program will be going through. The Athletic director spot still needs to be filled, which could possibly make the coaching hiring process even tough.

Even so, Feldman is confident plenty of big names will be attracted to the Plains. It may not be working out with Harsin but history shows the right coach can win at Auburn.