I mean, that's not a hard speculation to make. There's a growing chance that the Oklahoma job is back on the market this year, and Heupel was a Heisman runner-up who started his coaching career there. I understand that they fired him as offensive coordinator but that's still his alma mater and the fans would welcome him back with open arms. Would he seriously consider it? Who knows. Frankly I think it's a lateral move at best, and I hope that he has developed a loyalty to Danny White that will help keep him in Knoxville.
I know one thing: I'm glad we're in a position that allows Finebaum to speculate on another team wanting our coach vs. Finebaum speculating on when we're going to can our coach.
Great final point there, better to have this problem than the opposite. It's also, as you point out, not unreasonable. I don't think Venables is fired this season unless he is so embarrassed he voluntarily takes a reduced buyout.
Heupel would also be a great fit for the recent history of OU, all offense, no defense.
Having said that, OU is a bit better than lateral IMO based on overall tradition and the last 20 years. Historically it's been easier to recruit to because of the proximity of Texas.
I would say though that right, at this instant, it would bring more risk for Heupel than potential reward. UT is definitely a place where you can have a nationally prominent program and win championships and Heupel has us solidly on that path. Whereas OU experienced a (very rare!) transition from one highly successful coach to another and is now tasting the bitter dregs that UT Nebraska and pre-Harbaugh Michigan imbibed for so long. Which means a (very likely) second coaching transition in two years will most probably be a huge mess.
Heupel at this moment has UT at a high level, OU will likely face a rebuilding effort. I just don't see him going there.
But my main point is still that Finebaum is mostly a POS saban taint sniffer
A lot of you don't like Danielson...Finebaum IMO is FAR worse