Texas A&M coaching candidates: Mike Elko, Dan Lanning, Lane Kiffin among options to replace Jimbo Fisher

Texas A&M is used to getting what it wants. That doesn’t mean the Aggies succeed with what they wants. Prime example: Jimbo Fisher.

Fisher was fired Sunday near the end of Year 6 at Texas A&M. One might think that will cause the university to reset how it does football business. In the end, TAMU will end up having thrown nine figures at the Fisher regime. That includes a guaranteed contract (extended a couple of years ago), assistants’ salaries and what it will cost to change staffs. It will be paying Fisher’s $77 million buyout through 2031.

Depending on the buyout of the new coach, this process should easily surpass $100 million. The new guy won’t be a bargain, either, because of Texas A&M’s desperation to remain relevant in a conference where Georgia is seeking a third straight national championship, Alabama is still competing for titles, Jayden Daniels has become the Heisman Trophy frontrunner at LSU and Missouri is knocking on the door of a New Year’s Six bowl.

Monday can’t buy happiness, especially at Texas A&M. Big picture: Maybe this is the end of the 10-year guaranteed contract in college football. At Texas A&M? Good luck with that. If the right guy says yes, the Aggies will go eight figures again, especially with Texas about to join the SEC.

Who’s next? Historically, Texas A&M will hire someone it can “control.” That rules out a candidate like Deion Sanders, a local hero (with the Cowboys) who resides in Texas and would have been a hot name a couple of months ago. But a 1-6 downturn (so far) at Colorado dims Coach Prime’s star.

Texas A&M coaching candidates

Mike Elko, Duke coach: No. 1 with a bullet on this list. Elko made his reputation as defensive coordinator at Notre Dame and Texas A&M. He made Duke competitive…

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