Report: Luke Fickell continues to be favorite in USC coaching search

Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Luke Fickell continues to be a leading candidate to become the next coach of the USC Trojans. CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd thinks that Fickell is the ideal candidate for USC. Dodd also thinks that Fickell is the most realistic hire for the Trojans.

Fickell has been Cincinnati’s coach since the 2017 season. In his career, he has led the Bearcats to a 44-14 record. After a 4-8 season in his first year at the helm, Fickell has led Cincinnati to become one of the best group of five teams over the last four seasons. Cincinnati won 11 games in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons before going 9-1 last season. Now, Cincinnati is 9-0 and is in serious contention for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

He was also Ohio State’s interim head coach in 2011, leading the Buckeyes to a 6-7 record and a Gator Bowl appearance.

“Fickell is the candidate who most resembles what every USC fan longs for — the days of Pete Carroll,” Dodd said about why USC should hire Fickell. “Fickell has brought a stoic excellence to a Bearcats program that is challenging for a College Football Playoff spot.”

Dodd: It would be easier for Fickell to win at USC than LSU

Fickell’s name has been floated around for not only the USC opening, but the LSU job as well. Dodd points out that it would be easier to win at USC in the Pac-12 than it would be competing with Alabama and other SEC powers if he took the SEC job.

“It will take some convincing, but the guess here is that Fickell will be lured West, especially if Cincinnati is left out of the playoff,” Dodd said. “There has to be a feeling of hitting your head against a cement ceiling for Fickell even with the Bearcats headed to the Big 12 soon.

“USC would allow him immediate access to elite athletes in a league that would be easier to win than another potential suitor, LSU in the SEC. The key figure in the transaction is his wife, Amy Fickell, who along with her six children will have to be persuaded to accept a culture shift in Southern California.”

Fickell is a two-time AAC Coach of the Year during his tenure at Cincinnati. He truly has done a tremendous job at building Cincinnati into a national power. But, as Dodd alluded to, Cincinnati’s road to the CFP is tough despite the strong season. With a significant gap between strength of schedule compared to other top contenders, Cincinnati might not get a shot, which could in turn help Fickell make the decision to go elsewhere.

Cincinnati is currently fifth in the latest CFP rankings. With three weeks remaining in the regular season, clarity should be coming relatively soon on Fickell’s true standing in the USC search.