We’ve reached that time of year where athletics directors are quietly reaching out to search firms “just in case” there’s a need to make a coaching change. Here at the firm of Wolken, Wolken and Wolken (there’s actually just one Wolken at this firm, but multiple names makes it seem more official), we’re offering a great deal this year: Our advice is 100% free of charge!

Though we can’t list every name you should be looking at, we’ve saved you the time and trouble and narrowed it down to the candidate you should shoot for the moon to acquire, the candidate you could get tomorrow if your A-list superstar doesn’t want the job, and finally, someone who would at least be entertaining if all else fails.

So save your money, athletics directors, and just trust us to take care of everything if you think you’re going to need a new coach (wink wink).

MORE:USA TODAY Sports college football staff picks for Week 8

QUESTION ROUNDTABLE:Is Alabama headed for an unbeaten season?

WEEK 8:Notre Dame-USC matchup, this time, has magnitude

Nebraska

Current coach: Mike Riley (3rd season, 18-14, Hot Seat Level 8/10)

Dream hire: Justin Fuente

The Oklahoma-Nebraska rivalry is sadly as extinct as the American mastodon, but one person who would still have an appreciation for what Cornhuskers football means is Fuente. A Tulsa native who played quarterback for the Sooners before transferring, he started for Oklahoma in 1996 against Nebraska, completing six of 15 passes with three interceptions in a 73-21 loss.

Turns out Fuente became a much better coach than than player. Though it will be difficult to pry him away from a very comfortable situation at Virginia Tech, where he’s 15-5 midway through his second season, Nebraska would be dumb not to at least inquire if he’s interested in getting back closer to home.

Sensible hire: Scott Frost

The verdict on whether Frost can successfully run his own program has come quickly. The answer is yes. UCF’s offensive efficiency is downright scary at times, and the Knights are positioned well at 5-0 to be the Group of Five representative in a New Year’s Six bowl. Still, he’s only been a head coach for two years, so it’s a bit of a risk whether his approach would translate up a level.

Moreover, would a prodigal son scenario even be healthy for Frost given the sky high expectations of a legendary player coming back to rescue the program from irrelevance? Still, the alma mater pull could be strong for Frost, and it would make all the sense in the world if this happened.

Entertainment value hire: Mike Leach

Bringing Bill Moos from Washington State aboard as athletics director has given rise to speculation that the quirky Leach might follow. His weekly sessions with the rather large Nebraska media corps would be appointment viewing.

Tennessee

Current coach: Butch Jones (5th season, 33-24, Hot Seat Level 10/10)

Dream hire: Jon Gruden

Though his TV gig reportedly pays him $6.5 million per year for a fraction of the workload and pressure that comes along with being a college coach, this Grumor will never die. And there’s always just enough circumstantial evidence to keep it going, including showing up at a Vols game last weekend.

Of course, Gruden’s wife is a former Tennessee cheerleader, and his son goes to school in Knoxville, so the connections are obvious. But until Gruden actually expresses a desire to get back into coaching, and particularly at the college level where he has no relevant experience at all, it’s best to remain skeptical.

Sensible hire: Chad Morris

Tennessee fans are naturally drawn to the past (you’ll hear plenty of calls to bring back Phil Fulmer, David Cutcliffe or even try to hire Peyton Manning), but which current program should the Vols try to model? That would be Clemson, which is in the similar position of having a limited amount of in-state talent available but has established an attractive brand that draws players from Georgia, Florida and even the Northeast. Who knows how to do that better than Morris, the former Clemson offensive coordinator?

Forget his 11-19 record at SMU. He took over an absolute dumpster fire and has transformed it into a very competitive AAC outfit in fairly short order. Morris is a sharp offensive mind, blows away someone like Butch Jones in the charisma department and knows the recruiting landscape in areas like Georgia where the Vols need wins.

Entertainment value hire: Lane Kiffin

Who says you can’t go home again? Even though there’s no way this could happen, Kiffin isn’t afraid to fan the flames. This week, in fact, he followed a parody account on Twitter called @UTCoachKiffin.

Ole Miss

Current coach: Matt Luke (interim, 3-3, Hot Seat Level N/A)

Dream hire: Paul Johnson

If you subscribe to the theory that you need to do something a little bit different at Ole Miss to compete with the big boys, why not give the triple option a try? Say what you want, but Johnson’s approach flat-out works. Heck, Georgia Tech has won just as many SEC games in the last calendar year as Ole Miss. (It’s true, look it up.)

Johnson has been at Georgia Tech for 10 years, and he’s enjoying perhaps as good a relationship with his administration as he’s ever had. But he also loves a good challenge, and at age 60 time is running out if he wants to make one more career move. It’s worth a shot because he’d win. And he wouldn’t cheat.

Sensible hire: Bill Clark

If you’re looking for someone who has shown the ability to overcome impossible circumstances — and NCAA sanctions might well make the Ole Miss job next-to impossible — take a close look at Clark’s work at UAB. After the program’s self-imposed death penalty, the Blazers are a near-miraculous 4-2 in their comeback season.

And that follows his 6-6 record in 2014, which was incredible in its own right. Clark can flat-out coach and is highly charismatic without being inauthentic. It might be a big leap from UAB to an SEC job, but Clark could handle it.

Entertainment value hire: Les Miles

It’s clear the 63-year old Miles wants to get back in the game. And if Ole Miss’ program is going to be set back significantly by NCAA sanctions, the situation might call for a well-respected caretaker. Frankly, given the number of milquetoast personalities among the current SEC coaching ranks, a landing spot for The Hat would be welcome for fans and scribes alike.

Arkansas

Current coach: Bret Bielema (5th season, 27-30, Hot Seat Level 7/10)

Dream hire: Mike Gundy

Every year, there’s just enough noise surrounding his relationship with the Oklahoma State administration and mega-booster T. Boone Pickens to make it seem like Gundy is ready to leave his alma mater. And every year, he pulls back from the brink and stays in his comfort zone. Gundy got a new contract this past summer to bring him above $4.2 million annually, so money won’t really be a factor.

Gundy is just hard enough to make it worth asking, while realizing he’s likely going to stay in Stillwater at the end of the day. But wouldn’t it be fun to see his offense in the SEC? And in terms of a cultural fit, the Mulleted One would slide right in. After all, you can rattlesnake hunt just as well in Northwest Arkansas as you can in Northeast Oklahoma.

Sensible hire: Mike Norvell

The 36-year old Memphis coach has grown up a lot since he was sporting corn rows as a wide receiver at Central Arkansas in the early 2000s. Though Justin Fuente got Memphis’ program started as a power in the AAC, Norvell has taken it up a notch and has drawn notice from around the country this season for beating UCLA and Navy.

Though his system would need a little more attention to defense in the SEC, his offense has already been proven in a Power Five league when he was at Arizona State. His presence suggests a maturity beyond his years.

Entertainment value hire: Dana Holgorsen

Fill up those red Solo cups with Red Bull and get rocking. Holgorsen’s offense is proven at the Power Five level, he’s one of the best quotes in college football and he might just be gettable having probably hit the ceiling at West Virginia.