USC hopes to hire its next football coach in December, and Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin has emerged as the top target, according to sources.

Sumlin, who has won 30 games the past 2 1/2 seasons at Houston and Texas A&M, is also mentioned as a possible candidate at Texas and is one of the hottest names in coaching. There could be a bidding war after the season and he might even draw interest from NFL teams.

SEE PHOTO GALLERY OF USC COACHING CANDIDATES

USC’s search is still in an early stage, but the Trojans have also reached out to former NFL coach and current ESPN analyst Jon Gruden, sources said.

Former Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith has denied twice in the past month that he interviewed with USC. Meanwhile, USC athletic director Pat Haden has not acknowledged interviewing any candidates for the job.

Sumlin, Gruden, Boise State coach Chris Petersen, Vanderbilt coach James Franklin and Denver Broncos interim coach Jack Del Rio are the most frequent names associated with USC. Current Trojans coach Ed Orgeron will also be considered but is not expected to get the job.

However, Orgeron may be asked to stay at USC as an assistant, especially if someone with no West Coast ties like Sumlin gets the job.

Pac-12 Network analyst Rick Neuheisel believes Sumlin is ideal for USC.

“I’m hearing lot of names around the NFL, but I would say a guy like Kevin Sumlin might be the perfect choice,” Neuheisel told the Dan Patrick Show on Wednesday.

Sumlin was asked about being mentioned as a USC candidate shortly after Lane Kiffin was fired after the Trojans’ 62-41 loss to Arizona State.

“It means you’re winning and doing things the right way,” Sumlin said.

He makes $3.1 million at Texas A&M and could probably double his salary at USC. One source said Sumlin is an attractive candidate not just because he is successful but is viewed as a charismatic coach.

USC thrived under former coach Pete Carroll, who energized Southern California with his personality and turned the Trojans into an exciting program. Kiffin was viewed as the anti-Carroll and disdained contact with fans.

Gruden would obviously be a popular choice because he is a national figure. Sources said he is not completely opposed to considering a return to coaching but he did spurn Notre Dame after it fired Charlie Weis.

He might feel different this time around.

Petersen has repeatedly turned down overtures from schools, including UCLA before it hired Jim Mora. But some believe he might be ready to consider a bigger job.

Whether Petersen could adjust to life in Los Angeles, dealing with a larger fan base and more media scrutiny would be the issues regarding his potential hiring.

Franklin’s name surfaced last summer from sources inside the athletic department and he upset Georgia last month. But Vanderbilt is 4-4 overall and 1-4 in the SEC, so he might not generate a lot of excitement.

Sumlin, Franklin and Smith are African-American and some wonder if Haden wants to make a historical hire. USC’s never had an African-American football coach.

Del Rio is a lightning rod for USC fans. Some are adamantly against him while others support a former USC player getting the job. He does not have college coaching experience and was just 69-73 in nine seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Some sources say Del Rio is not a top-tier candidate but could be in the mix if USC’s preferred choices turn them down.

He would not create much of a splash if he were hired and the next USC coach will need to sell the program following the Kiffin era.

One thing to keep in mind that USC’s top choices rarely are hired as head coach. Carroll was famously the Trojans’ fourth choice after former Oregon State coach Dennis Erickson, former Oregon coach Mike Bellotti and former San Diego Chargers coach Mike Riley did not take the job.

Kiffin was hired in 2010 after Riley again rebuffed USC and then-athletic director Mike Garrett was stuck trying to hire someone in January after Carroll went to the Seattle Seahawks.

Orgeron is extremely popular with the players, so he might be a fallback candidate if the Trojans are unable to hire a big-name coach.

The search should be easier this time, though, because the Trojans are nearly off probation and scholarship limits are in effect for only one more season.

For the latest on USC football and its coaching search, follow Scott Wolf’s Inside USC blog.