The 2021 coaching carousel taught me — and a lot of other people who have been following college football for a long time — to never say never. What seemed absolutely ridiculous and highly implausible became reality, and not just once, either.
Lincoln Riley left Oklahoma to coach USC. Brian Kelly then left Notre Dame to coach LSU. Neither turn of events seemed remotely possible or the slightest bit realistic. Just one of those two things happening was an earthquake. Both of them happening on consecutive days was an end-of-the-world-level comet hitting the planet in terms of impact, disruption and chaos.
Never say never. We won’t guarantee that Alex Grinch will stay at USC and not take the Arizona State job, but we’re certainly not convinced he will bolt.
It’s still very unlikely that Alex Grinch would leave USC and Lincoln Riley for Arizona State. Let’s explain why.