NFL Predictions: 5 College Coaches Who May Have NFL Jobs on Their Radar

Now that the college football season is over and the best college coach in America proved his team was the best (there should be no dispute in this assumption), maybe it is time to look at those who are just a notch lower than Nick Saban.

And when we talk about the best in college football in terms of their coaching acumen and their resume in clutch games, conference championships and national titles, should we begin to think of them in terms of "life after college football?"

Do these coaches have more to add to their resume and do they have the NFL set in their sights? Does a jump to the NFL make sense at this time or in the near future?

Mr. Saban has already tried this with the Dolphins and had some success, but found the college game more to his liking. Steve Spurrier failed at it in the NFL, but was successful in the USFL with the Tampa Bay Bandits.

And as for Bobby Petrino, let's not bring up a sore subject.

Could these five coaches be walking an NFL sideline in the near future?

Lane Kiffin, Southern Cal

He already tried this once with the Raiders and bombed at it. He looked like he would turn Tennessee around and left. He got to Southern Cal, found a strong-armed passer in Matt Barkley and a world of talent.

Life is good for Kiffin right now.

But since he is still very young (36), what does the future hold for him? Can we see him being a college coach for the next 30 years. He is not a Joe Paterno or Eddie Robinson kind of coach who stays in one place.

Kiffin probably would test the NFL waters again if someone came calling. The situation would have to be a tremendous fit for him, since he makes $4 million on the West Coast to begin with.

And, the NFL must be ready for him and his demeanor. If all that falls into place, Kiffin will be on an NFL sideline at some point again.

Urban Meyer, Ohio State

He just accepted the coaching position in Ohio. and I already have him on the move.

We cannot say he did not earn this one.

Meyer is the man who talks out of both sides of his mouth, but he is great for college football. Whether we want to believe it, coaching the Buckeyes has always been his dream job. To walk in the shadow of Woody Hayes and bring this college another national title.

Meyer's offense exploits weakness, but could it work in the NFL? It is a parallel to Steve Spurrier. The "Fun and Gun" was a disaster. Could the "spread" be effective?

We may get to see if it is at some point. But Meyer would need to "retire" first to think about his options.

Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State

It used to be that Bob Stoops was the hot commodity in Oklahoma.

Could Gundy be the new star in the Midwest?

The Cowboys ran through everyone on their schedule and proved to be a tough task for the Andrew Luck-led Stanford Cardinal.

Will an NFL team look at Gundy's offense and think it can work on the pro level? Who knows. But another season or two of high-octane offense, and scouts and general managers may come calling.

And with Gundy being only 44, he has plenty of time to decide if making the jump is the right move for him.

Chris Petersen, Boise State

Of all the coaches on this list, he may be the most likely to stay in college forever.

Petersen seems to love it in Idaho.

Petersen has been rumored to be on the radar for several college coaching jobs and has not left the place where he has found the most success. He just received a new five-year contract with the school.

As long as Petersen remains in Idaho, the Broncos and their blue field remain relevant in college football.

With a 73-6 coaching record in college, what's not to love about a guy who wins with the talent he works with on a continual basis?

Les Miles, LSU

Miles is just as good a coach as Saban. He may be the most underrated coach in college football, mainly because he followed Saban's footsteps to LSU.

Does Miles, who has brought a national title to the Bayou, have the NFL in his future?

Every year a coach who is "hot" gets mentioned for a coaching job. It hasn't happened yet, but could Miles get a call this week from a team needed an infusion of "excitement?"

Could he be on Jacksonville's radar? Could you see him in Indianapolis if Jim Caldwell is let go after a new general manager is hired by the Colts?

Who knows, but Miles could have more success than most college coaches making the jump.