Another week, another power conference college football opening. Another SEC job became open on Sunday when Auburn fired Hugh Freeze, which means the Alabama school joins LSU and Florida in needing to hire a head coach.
This job at Auburn will move to near the top of the list of desired openings with Penn State, Florida, and LSU. James Franklin rumors to Virginia Tech were hot last week, but those will likely cool off after this opening, as it is one where Franklin could likely land.
One ACC name that keeps popping up with each opening, it feels like, is Georgia Tech's Brent Key. Last week, he was linked to the LSU opening, and it didn't take long on Sunday for him to be linked to the Auburn opening by ESPN.
Georgia Tech coach Brent Key linked to Auburn opening
It is understandable why Key's name keeps coming up with the job he's done with the Yellow Jackets. They are 8-1 and still on the path to the College Football Playoff. However, one big potential roadblock for him to Auburn is that he is coaching at his alma mater.
"There's a lot to like about Key, especially for an Auburn program seeking a breakthrough in the SEC. Key can win the big game, as he has shown with a 7-1 record against ranked opponents in the ACC. Georgia Tech, Key's alma mater, has grown from a pest into a CFP contender this fall, sitting at 8-1 and in the race for the ACC title game. Key also has direct connections to the state and to the SEC, growing up near Birmingham, Alabama, and coaching the offensive line for Nick Saban's Alabama teams from 2016 to 2018. The 47-year-old has recruited the region throughout his career, especially the Atlanta area that Auburn relies on to fill out its roster. Key would bring a tough-minded approach to Auburn and a philosophy based on running the ball. Plus, he could still stick it to Georgia."
Key is going to be a name to watch this coaching cycle, and if he were to jump from Georgia Tech, it would create another opening in the ACC along with Virginia Tech. Three other jobs, Boston College, North Carolina, and Florida State, are other jobs that could potentially open sooner rather than later.