Iowa State’s Matt Campbell Favored to be Florida State’s HC in 2020; Urban Meyer +600

• Books have established Iowa State coach Matt Campbell as the +300 favorite to be the next coach of the Florida State Seminoles
• The 4-5 Seminoles fired head coach Willie Taggart on Sunday
• Former Florida and Ohio State coach Urban Meyer was given +600 odds to be the next coach of the Seminoles

It’s that time of year when a lot of folks are heading to the warmer climates of Florida. Might Matt Campbell be among them?

The 4-5 Florida State Seminoles decided they’d seen enough of the Willie Taggart show following Saturday’s 27-10 loss to the Miami Hurricanes, and sent him packing after just 21 games as head coach.

Taggart was 9-12 during his brief tenure.

Books were quick to post a betting market speculating on the next coach of the Seminoles, establishing Campbell, head coach of the Iowa State Cyclones, as the favorite.

The sportsbook gave Campbell odds of +200.

Odds To Be Florida State Head Football Coach For Week 1 of 2020 NCAA Season

Odds taken on November 4, 2019.

Some big names populating the list include Urban Meyer (+600), who coached both the Florida Gators and Ohio State Buckeyes to national titles. Former Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops (+500) is another candidate, as is current Michigan Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh (+2000).

Heck, there’s even +5000 odds on legendary Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, 89, coming out of retirement to return the Seminoles to their glory day.

Now that’s just silly.

Tagging Taggart

It became quickly evident that Taggart was in over his head at Florida State and that he wasn’t going to grow into the job. That the Seminoles relieved him of his duties after less than two seasons tells you how bad it really was there, especially considering the financial price they paid, and will continue to pay, in order to get him.

$2,515,000: What Florida State paid Willie Taggart per game. Total cost, including Oregon & USF buyout, will come to about $30,180,000.

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) November 3, 2019

In Taggart’s farewell game, playing at home the Seminoles took 10 penalties and surrendered nine quarterback sacks to an equally mediocre Miami squad.

Veteran assistant coach Odell Haggins, who’s been on the Florida State staff for 26 years, will finish out the season as interim head coach.

Is Bigger Better?

The Seminoles tried the give the small college guy his first shot at the big time trend with Taggart. He was a huge success at Western Kentucky.

The expectation is that this time around, they’ll be looking for a name. The Seminoles will want someone with significant experience running a major program, preferably from a Power Five conference.

For all the recent problems at the school, Florida State remains a plum job. This is a program where national championships have been won, and can be won again.

Souped Up Campbell

Certainly, Campbell is an intriguing candidate. He’s done an impressive job at Iowa State. The Cyclones were 8-5 the last seasons and are 5-3 this season.

Already saw Bob Stoops and Matt Campbell floated for FSU. No, no, no. Think Lane Kiffin, Dave Clawson, Mark Stoops, Venables. Those types. PJ Fleck would play well in Tally.

— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) November 3, 2019

On the other hand, he’s never coached outside the midwest and has no ties whatsoever to the state of Florida. Could he carry the kind of clout necessary in the recruiting wars for all that elite Florida football talent?

Stepping To The Stoops

Will the Seminoles opt for the best Stoops brother available?

When Bob Stoops retired from the Oklahoma Sooners in 2017, everyone thought he was done with coaching. Then he accepted the job as coach/GM of the XFL’s Dallas Renegades.

Unless Bob Stoops and Urban Meyer ruin all the fun https://t.co/9auDYFhegR

— Barton Simmons (@bartonsimmons) November 3, 2019

He’d be the ideal candidate to check off all of Florida State’s boxes. But if he’s not interested, going after his brother, Kentucky Wildcats coach Mark Stoops is making a lot of sense.

He’s done a great job at Kentucky. He’s proven to be a strong recruiter and prior to taking the Kentucky job, was Florida State’s defensive coordinator.

Urban Legend

Meyer isn’t coming to Tallahassee. Neither is Harbaugh. But you know who might be from the Big Ten? Minnesota’s PJ Fleck.

The Golden Gophers are 8-0. And Fleck is another who’s adept at the recruiting game.

Set the pecking order like this – Mark Stoops as the frontrunner, followed by Fleck and then Campbell.

Pick: Mark Stoops (+400).