The Gators are immersed in yet another high-stakes coaching search after firing Billy Napier, who never quite found a solid footing in Gainesville. Heading into November, Florida is once again trying to figure out how to recapture its SEC glory and land a coach who can deliver consistent results. 

Brett McMurphy summed up the current college football coaching carousel in a tweet, posting, “Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin remains the favorite, at 45%, to be Florida’s coach via @Kalshi, followed by Missouri’s Eliah Drinkwitz (22%), Washington’s Jedd Fisch (17%) & USF’s Alex Golesh (8%).” Lane Kiffin has been making the top spot of every coaching search. But Florida insiders aren’t convinced he’ll actually take the bait this time. The Rebels are contending for the playoffs, and Kiffin made it clear that he’s totally focused on the season and is just blocking all the noise.

With those odds in play, the focus shifts to Jedd Fisch, a coach whose stock is rising almost as fast as Washington’s on-field fortunes. In just over a year, Fisch has flipped the Huskies from a 6-7 aftershock in 2024 to 6-2 and ranked No. 24 in the AP Poll as of early November 2025. He has also been navigating massive roster turnover and making an explosive offensive turnaround. 

Under Jedd Fisch, Washington has trotted out a balanced, high-scoring attack led by breakout quarterback Demond Williams Jr., focused running by Jonah Coleman (leading running back in rushing touchdowns), and the emergence of Denzel Boston at wide receiver. The Huskies are scoring over 35 points per game and just beat Illinois. Jedd Fisch’s approach and potential Florida fit are interesting on a deeper level. He’s developed a reputation as a “builder”, someone who can modernize a program through relationships and recruiting without losing sight of results.

His Florida Gators connection goes back to an important influence. Jedd is a 1998 UF graduate and considers legendary Steve Spurrier as a mentor. That link, combined with his rapid Big Ten success, suggests he could revive UF’s fortunes quickly if given the job. While there’s currently no extension talk, Washington is reportedly aware of the risk of losing him, especially since his buyout stands at $10 million until January 8, 2026.

As for Jedd Fisch’s own words, he keeps it all business in the face of speculation: “We haven’t talked about any of that, we’re just focusing on beating Wisconsin,” he said when asked about potential extensions. 

But he is aware of how the stakes have changed, noting: “I just think that buyouts seem to be high and it seems like guys are losing their jobs quicker, so I think they’re probably working hand-in-hand right now… I think it’s the amount of different things that you’re doing in college football that is one of the main reasons why the salaries and buyouts have become what they are.” Judging by his trajectory at Arizona, now at Washington, and possibly beyond, one thing is clear as day. Fisch’s blend of innovation, organization, and a genuine knack for channeling legends could be exactly what Florida needs to get off its own coaching carousel.​

A hot commodity between Florida and UCLA

If the past few coaching cycles have taught us anything, it’s that Jedd Fisch’s name is going to keep popping up. While the main focus has recently been on Florida, insiders have tracked some very real signals that Fisch would consider the UCLA job too.

The word is, folks close to Fisch first hinted his interest in Los Angeles was more than just a leverage play. He reportedly was looking closely at the opportunity before some sources quickly downplayed it. Now, as the musical chairs heat up and the terms of each potential gig come into focus, the chatter is back. He would be interested in UCLA if the money and conditions are right, but there’s also genuine buzz that Florida, his alma mater, would still be his first choice. For Washington fans, it’s a rollercoaster. Every new rumor just brings more uncertainty, though UW brass maintains Fisch is happy where he is.

He had been an interim head coach at UCLA Bruins, and fans remember him for guiding the team to bowl eligibility. His impressive resume has landed him on every shortlist in November. Florida might still be his dream job. But UCLA’s inclusion and Washington’s loyalty mean this coaching search could take some intriguing turns.