Big time as in proven winner at P5 level.
I like Cris Klieman. Lashlee is an up and comer as well. I think
Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State is a possibility. Things are stale in stillwater and a change may do him good.
Pat Narduzzi at Pitt can flat out coach.
Bill O'Brien Boston College. - nfl, Penn st... etc... etc
Curt cignetti: what a baller this guy is
Jon Sumrall - young up and comer at G5 level, alumni, stoops protege . de facto pick of the deep state ( mitch and his flunkies), could be a good one but is he best available? How many alumni work out when they come home? ( Joker)
Dan Mullen, did well at Florida and had Missi St. At #1. Dood can flat out coach. Unfairly ousted at florida
Unrealistic :
but you still talk to Chris Peterson, Nick Saban, urban meyer, bill bellicheck just to show you are confident about hiring the best available and discuss with them how they built their respective programs and who they would suggest.
You talk to some nfl guys as well, interviewing successful coordinators. However you do it, you build buzz, need to get the boosters and fans fired up to donate NIL
Wouldn't mind the first two you listed being in consideration if you're making a list.
Not sure Gundy would be worth the look. Bit of a loose cannon, but has a solid record. his controversies might be a few too many for Mitch. Would be a lateral or possibly downward move for Gundy. just depends on if he wants to coach in the SEC.
Don't know enough about Narduzzi.
Bill O'Brien would be an underwhelming hire. Hasn't done much at the college level (very Stoops like records) and was mediocre in the NFL.
Only knock on Cignetti is his age (64), and he's now at a Big 10 program. not sure he'd leave IU for UK so soon since he appears to be building something there.
Sumrall is the likely first to be asked. Fans largely seem on board with him. he has all the makings of a solid up and comer. Just because he's a former Alum in no way makes him a comparison to Joker. Joker was giftwrapped the job after being named Coach in waiting and had never lead a program of his own at any level, so throwing him into the fire in the SEC was a horrible fit. Sumrall is light years ahead of Joker, and would likely craw here if asked. I would compare it more to the Mark Pope hire, than the Joker hire, and if Neal Brown gets canned at WVU, he would make a great OC for Sumrall. Just sayin'.
Mullen is still pretty young and would have a lot of years left, but feel like he wouldn't be able to take us much further than Stoops has. He definitely deserves another shot at coaching somewhere and could prove us all wrong, but I think the biggest knock on him was recruiting and that's something that's only gotten harder in the new era of NIL. He'd really have to build a staff capapble of picking up his slack in that regard.
You can call any of those other guys you mentioned, but they ain't coming. Saban is in his 70's and got out partly because of the NIL mess. Peterson isn't leaving the west coast, Belichick is 72 as well. Why would he even consider it. Tom Brady made him the name he was. Only halfway realistic one would be Urban Meyer, but way too much baggage for Mitch with that one.