With the regular season ending Saturday night, rumors continue to heat up about the Texas A&M head coach opening. The Aggies fired Jimbo Fisher two weeks ago to create the biggest opening currently in college football, and big names are emerging as potential candidates. The latest include Dabo Swinney and Mark Stoops. 

Stoops was mentioned by FOX’s Bruce Feldman as a possibility during the Big Noon Kickoff preview show. Stoops took over the Wildcats in 2013 and built them into a consistent SEC program. Kentucky posted a winning record in six of the last seven seasons, including an 11-win campaign in 2021. The only losing season occurred during the pandemic-altered 2020 season. Stoops’ buy out is reportedly $4.5 million dollars. 

Swinney was reported as a serious candidate by the Houston Chronicle on Saturday afternoon. The two-time national champion at Clemson hasn’t seen eye-to-eye with his fan base at times during a rocky 2023 season. He took over Clemson midway through the 2008 season and built the Tigers into a national contender by 2012. They won the championship in 2016 and 2018. His teams won at least 10 games from 2011 through 2022. 

Other names circling for the Texas A&M job include Arizona’s Jedd Fisch, Duke’s Mike Elko, and even Ohio State’s Ryan Day. The Aggies want a replacement in place by the time the transfer portal opens on Dec. 4. The early signing period also forces programs to speed up the hiring and firing process.