Could LSU football target Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham?

LSU football is all in on Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. The Tigers have put Kiffin atop their head-coaching wishlist and haven't paid much attention anywhere else.

But Kiffin to LSU is far from a lock and the Tigers need a backup plan.

For a few weeks, the backup plan was rumored to be Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz. On Thursday, Drinkwitz and Missouri announced an extension, keeping Drinkwitz in Colombia for the foreseeable future.

We can be serious here. If LSU wanted Drinkwitz, he would be LSU's next head coach. Drinkwitz signing with Missouri is a combination of Missouri being willing to pay up and a lack of interest from LSU.

The Kiffin saga could conclude soon. The Egg Bowl is on Friday and soon after that, an announcement or reports will reveal Kiffin's decision. Kiffin is deciding between LSU, Florida, or staying at Ole Miss.

If Kiffin stays in Oxford or heads to Gainesville, where does LSU go?

Could Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham be an LSU target?

Kenny Dillingham is one of the hottest names in the sport. He doesn't always generate buzz in head-coaching searches, mostly because people think it would be hard to pry the young coach away from Tempe.

Dillingham took over a program that won just three games in 2022. Dillingham didn't exceed that win total in year one, but in year two, he led Arizona State to 11 wins and the College Football Playoff. That's a remarkable turnaround for a program that won six games in two years.

Prior to accepting the Arizona State job, Dillingham was the offensive coordinator at Oregon, where he helped revitalize Bo Nix's career.

Dillingham is one of the top offensive minds in the sport, a reputation he's furthered this year. Arizona State lost star QB Sam Leavitt for the season and wide receiver Jordan Tyson has been in and out of the lineup with a hamstring injury. Despite that, ASU is 8-3 and ranked in the latest CFP Poll.

A young coach, Dillingham doesn't run from recruiting or the transfer portal. That's the attitude needed to win at LSU.

For now, Dillingham to LSU is probably a long shot. LSU is locked in on Kiffin, but if LSU's Kiffin pursuit falls apart, don't be surprised if Dillingham's name is kicked around.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Could LSU football target Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham?