Panthers HC Matt Rhule Potentially Eyeing A Return To College

With the LSU head coaching job vacant, a new name has emerged in the running: Matt Rhule.

The Carolina Panthers head coach is reportedly not all the way in on the NFL moving forward, per FS1 analyst Joel Klatt. Klatt said on Wednesday's episode of the "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" that Rhule may want to come back down to the college level.

Klatt's assertion adds another name to a long list of candidates rumored to take over in Baton Rouge at the end of the season. Michigan State's Mel Tucker and Louisiana Lafayette's Billy Napier are just a couple of those candidates that could be interested in the job.

Although in the NFL, Rhule, 46, is not all that removed from the college ranks. Rhule served as head coach of Baylor from 2017-2019 and had lots of success. Tasked with rebuilding the program after the Art Briles scandal, Rhule guided the Bears to an 11-3 season in 2019. That came after starting his tenure in Waco at 1-11 in 2017.

Rhule's first head coaching gig was at Temple from 2013-2016. There, he led the Owls to back-to-back 10-win seasons, making two bowl game appearances. Rhule's college resume shows someone who can rebuild a program, something he'd be tasked with doing at LSU.

Rhule is in year two with the Panthers and has an 8-15 record thus far. Carolina is trending in the wrong direction after four consecutive losses and uncertainty at the quarterback position.