Analyst Floats Wild Coaching Shuffle that Would Impact Michigan, LSU, and Alabama

Sports media personality Clay Travis went to social media Wednesday with a coaching scenario that would shock the college football world. “We need Kalen DeBoer to leave for Michigan and then Lane Kiffin to leave LSU for Alabama before he coaches a game to really take the insanity to the next level,” Travis said on X.

This is only hours after the university fired head coach Sherrone Moore for cause after an investigation found that he had an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.

Michigan’s sudden opening became the most attractive opportunity available at a time when most schools had already finished their hiring searches. Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss for LSU just 10 days ago after leading the Rebels to an 11-1 record and a playoff berth.

He inked a seven-year contract worth $13 million per year but has not coached a single match for the Tigers as of now.

Travis was definitely having a little fun with the thought of maximum chaos. Getting DeBoer to leave Alabama after only two years for Michigan would be astonishing enough on its own. Then to follow that up with Kiffin leaving LSU before he even got a chance to coach a game would be a whole new level of chaos. It seems unlikely, but the 2025 coaching market has already brought some surprises.

DeBoer succeeded Nick Saban at Alabama prior to the 2024 season and compiled a record of 9-4 in his inaugural campaign, suffering setbacks to Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. The Crimson Tide have a 10-3 record after they were defeated by Georgia 28-7 in the SEC Championship Game over the weekend

Alabama received the number nine seed in the College Football Playoff and will play Indiana in the first round. DeBoer was rumored to be a candidate for the Penn State opening, but those rumors were quickly dispelled.

“We’re extremely happy at Alabama. We’re extremely happy here, love the challenge, love the grind, love this place. There’s never been any link, there’s never been any conversation, there’s never been any interest either way,” DeBoer said last week.

We need Kalen DeBoer to leave for Michigan and then Lane Kiffin to leave LSU for Alabama before he coaches a game to really take the insanity to the next level.

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) December 10, 2025

Michigan Vacancy Sparks Rumors, But DeBoer and Kiffin Both Seem to Be in a Stable Position Now

Travis’ situation would force DeBoer to leave an eight-year deal at Alabama, where he gets $10.25 million this year. However, in the event he leaves voluntarily, he would have to pay $4 million to Alabama. On the other hand, if he is fired, Alabama would have to pay 90 percent of his remaining contract.

DeBoer gets an additional $250,000 annually until 2031, after which he tops out at $11.75 million. It would take a lot of money for Michigan to lure him away.

Kiffin’s circumstances at LSU make Travis’s plan even more complicated. Kiffin is only 50, and he just signed his contract on Nov 30 and was formally introduced on Dec 1. His contract has very strong buyout clauses that would cost LSU millions if he were to leave right away. There are also bonuses and escalators in the contract, one of which would pay him the most if he could lead LSU to a national championship.

Kiffin sparked controversy by leaving Ole Miss before the Rebels’ playoff run, making him the first head coach in playoff history to leave his team between the end of the regular season and the College Football Playoff. Ole Miss eventually hired defensive coordinator Pete Golding to replace Kiffin.

The thought of Kiffin returning to Alabama also has some history. He was the offensive coordinator under Saban from 2014 to 2016 before he left for Florida Atlantic. The two had a good relationship even after Kiffin left.

Kiffin’s coaching background consists of stints at Tennessee, USC, Florida Atlantic, and Ole Miss. Additionally, he coached in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders.

His penchant for switching between coaching jobs is well-noted. However, leaving LSU before even coaching a game would be an extreme move, even for a coach known for his unexpected career changes.