I'm not so sure....
AD Strickland said today:
1.) We won't (can't) talk to any active coaches until end of Regular Season (but not Bowl Season).
2.) It would be "good" to have a coach in place by Early Signing Day on December 20th to keep a good recruiting class intact (if not even better).
So obviously we are talking to Kelly first - only because he CAN be talked to because he is not actively coaching in NCAA. If he is agreeable, it will be a short search IMO. If not, the "word" here is that the press will be on for either for Gundy or Frost. Mullen, not so much. Great Coach, but not Foley's kissin' cousin (and Foley still "confers" with Strickland).
I also think that Strickland's pick of Randy Shannon as interim coach was perfect for a number of reasons.
Muschamp still has buyout left of $1.25m. Final payments within 6-12 months.
Mac technically had $12.5m but shot himself in foot with the microphone. Buyout won't disappear "for cause", but it won't be $12.5m either.
I agree with the points in this article why the buyout will be around $5m:
Report: Jim McElwain may get just $4 million, not full buyout - Alligator Army