Chip Kelly, Kyle Whittingham among betting favorites for USC job

USC once again embarks on a head coaching search, with one of the country’s premier jobs opening for the third time since Pete Carroll left after the 2009 season. The last two times, the Trojans went with former Carroll assistants. This time, it looks like that path is less likely.

Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham is the favorite for the job, per oddsmaker Bovada. Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly and Boise State head coach Bryan Harsin are among the other early favorites.

Whittingham, a California native and former Los Angeles Rams linebacker, has been with the Utes since 1994 and has the program as the last Pac-12 unbeaten left standing. Kelly became a household name with his success at Oregon in the Pac-12, but is currently employed by an NFL team and has expressed his desire not to return to college. A Boise native and former Bronco quarterback, Harsin has a 17-3 record at the school after taking over for Chris Petersen (also on the list!).

Other names of note: rising mid-major stars Tom Herman and Justin Fuente, USC alum Jack Del Rio and Petersen, who beat the Trojans in Steve Sarkisian’s final game.