The LSU head coaching search has already affected the USC head coaching search to a certain extent — not necessarily at the very top of USC’s list, but certainly at the lower or middle tiers of the Trojans’ list.

A good example: Dave Aranda might have been a sexy dark-horse candidate had the LSU job never opened up. However, Aranda’s recent national championship star turn as LSU defensive coordinator safely takes him off USC’s board and puts him in play only for the Bayou Bengals. He won’t be USC’s next coach.

Yet, while the LSU head coaching search joins the USC head coaching search as a major plot point in the college football season, we now have something else to consider: The LSU search could affect the USC NFL player whose career has been the focus of intense discussion and debate this year: Sam Darnold.

The Carolina Panthers’ quarterback is in a much better place than he ever was with the New York Jets. Darnold has struggled in recent weeks, mostly because Christian McCaffrey has been out with an injury. McCaffrey’s absence has been devastating for Darnold and the Panthers, as one might readily expect. Sacks, completion percentage, third-down conversions, yards per play — these and other cornerstone statistics have been dramatically affected by McCaffrey. When on the field, McCaffrey takes so much heat off his quarterback: Darnold’s numbers are great and his level of pressure is low. When McCaffrey is off the field, Darnold struggles a lot. Imagine that: A star player is hugely important.

One person who has to wonder if it’s worth continuing as an NFL coordinator — with McCaffrey, his signature chess piece, constantly injured — is Joe Brady. If Sam Darnold can have Brady and McCaffrey around him, the Panthers have a chance to be really good. However, if McCaffrey remains hurt, it could lead Brady to have a wandering eye — not for any job, but certainly for a few select jobs.

Hello, LSU.

Brady was the offensive coordinator who turned Joe Burrow into a Heisman Trophy winner and college football legend in 2019. If LSU has a short list — or at least a list of people it absolutely MUST call — Joe Brady has to be on it.

Brady wouldn’t leave the Panthers for most jobs, but LSU is an obvious possible exception.

Sam Darnold hopes LSU can find someone else.