Ohio State Football: 5 Legitimate Candidates to Replace Luke Fickell

Ohio State finished Week 6 with another loss to a conference foe and drops to 3-3 (0-2) as Nebraska pulled out a tough 34-27 win in Lincoln. 

However, for a university that is accustomed to heading to a BCS bowl game every year, 3-3 just isn't going to cut it. The Buckeyes are seemingly out of the Big Ten title race in its first year with a conference championship.

Jim Tressel may have been a cheat, but at least he put them in a position to win. Luke Fickell doesn't seem to be working out in Columbus so far, and Ohio State may need to start looking around to see whom it can poach.

These five coaches should be considered when the time comes to replace Fickell. 

Mike Gundy

Oklahoma State has excelled the past few years, and it's mostly due to this man. Mike Gundy is a great football coach and deserves a look from a storied program like Ohio State.

Oklahoma State sits in the shadow of a monster headed by Bob Stoops. Competing with the Sooners for recruits every year is difficult. Columbus has never and will never have that problem. Recruits want to become a Buckeye.  

With the potential to win Oklahoma State's first national title this season, Gundy is the man to replace Fickell. Creating a winning team is just what he's done with limited resources in Stillwater, so just imagine what's possible in Ohio State. 

Dabo Swinney

Clemson's head coach has revived a program that has seemed dead for a while now. The Tigers are undefeated and have the potential to reach a BCS bowl this year. 

Dabo Swinney is an exciting coach to watch. He gets pumped and excited on the sideline. He exudes energy that his players just suck up. This man knows how to connect with his players, and as a head football coach at a Division I school, that's impressive. 

The Clemson Tigers may be heading for a shot at the national title, and we'll see exactly what Swinney can do with the rest of his season.

John Chavis

The LSU defense is like a wall this season. Ohio State's defense is not. Bringing a defensive specialist to head up the Buckeyes is a good choice for any team.

John Chavis has said he's happy in Baton Rouge, but that was when Texas was going after him for the same position. When Ohio State is interested in you to be its head coach, you listen. 

This experienced coach should be a prime target for any team looking to get a head coach this year, especially the reeling Buckeyes. 

Gary Patterson

TCU was the nation's BCS bowl buster last season, beating Wisconsin the Rose Bowl. Gary Patterson led this team to that victory and any school should give him a look for its head coach.

Recruiting and performing with limited resources in a state that is dominated by the University of Texas, Patterson and TCU has found a way to generate wins.

He's a classy coach and Ohio State should more than consider him to replace Fickell. He's a potent strategist and can pump up his players, making Patterson any team's choice.  

Mark Stoops

It may be time for the final Stoops brother to take up a head coaching job. Mark Stoops is a defensive genius, and even though Florida State hasn't shown that as of late, he should get looked at by the Buckeyes.

Stoops knows exactly what he is doing, just like his other two brothers, when it comes to football. He should be at the top of many lists for teams across the nation, including the Buckeyes. 

He, along with any of these five coaches, has the potential to be successful at Ohio State.