COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The news that Texas A&M now has a head coach vacancy may be the biggest headline of the college football world for the rest of the year.
In fact, the news is so big it's prompted head coaches at other prominent programs to respond when asked because of how impactful the job being open is, despite A&M's underwhelming results.
One of the top candidates that is currently being eyed is Dan Lanning, the head coach of Oregon. The Ducks are currently ranked sixth in the country in the AP Top 25 poll, just behind in-conference rival Washington, and should remain in that position, given they don't drop either or both of their final two games of the season against Arizona State and Oregon State respectively.
They are an elite team that--barring a blemish on their record following a clash of Pac-12 titans against Washington--has nearly everything they could want. Bo Nix is having a Heisman-worthy season, and is in the top percentile of all programs when it comes to offensive production in many categories.
However, when asked about possible rumors of him leaving the program, he firmly shot down the idea that he could be coaching somewhere else in 2024.
"I guess the reality here is...my name and our program would never be a topic of conversation for another school if we didn't have something here that everybody else wanted. And the reason we have something here that everybody else wants--that's because of what our players, our coaches, the support that exists here at Oregon have created--I think I've been really really clear here since day one, everything I want exists right here. I'm not going anywhere. There's zero chance that I would be coaching somewhere else. I've got unfinished business here. There's a lot that I want to accomplish here at Oregon. My number one priority is being elite here at Oregon."
Another name that circulated in speculations was Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, who has had great success turning the program around from a near win-less season in 2022, bringing the program to new levels of relevance despite still searching for enough wins to be bowl eligible this year.
"I want to win. I want to win a game," Sanders said in a press conference when asked about him being a possible candidate for the Texas A&M job. "You think I sit down and think about that kind of stuff? ...Come on. I'm good. We gotta win."
He later affirmed his commitment to being in Colorado when further asked about if the possibility would ever be on the horizon.
"I'm here...I tell (them) my mother's here. My sister's here. My dog is here. My daughter's here. Three of my sons are here. My other daughter comes during every home game. We're here," Sanders emphasized.
The trend continued with coaches of other programs. Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin brushed the question off when asked, saying "I'm not going there again." in reference to how last year he was heavily inferred to be taking the Auburn head coaching job during the offseason after they fired Bryan Harsin.
Even former defensive coordinator and current Duke head coach Mike Elko, who has put the Blue Devils on the maps of many for what he's achieved this season, affirmed his commitment to the program in a Monday press conference.
"I'm very committed to this place," Elko said. "Everybody knows I'm very happy at this place. We're doing a lot of very special things at this place. My family is very happy here. We love Duke."
Elko even signed a multi-year extension over the summer, which will keep him at the helm of the Blue Devils through the 2029 season, unless he chooses to leave.
Some responses, however, weren't as direct.
When asked if he had any interest in the opening at A&M, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said "I'm just focused on this job...Always have been. Just trying to beat North Carolina. It must be November--that's all I can say."
Similarly, Jeff Traylor, the head coach of UTSA, stated that he had had the conversation with his players
"That speculation is going to always come up when you've had great players like I've had, and I've been blessed to coach them," Traylor said when providing his reaction to being looked at as a candidate for the position. "We've addressed (me possibly leaving the program), and I've told them it's a good thing. That means they're winning a lot of ball games for us. And as long as they keep winning ball games, there's going to be speculation."
Regardless of who may end up being the new head coach in Aggieland come 2024, Texas A&M Athletics Director Ross Bjork affirmed in his press conference where he announced the change in leadership that the program won't be rushing the new hire, and will look to both industry experts, former players, and more to guide the decision.