Was anyone outside the state of Ohio expecting Mel Tucker and Michigan State to lose 49-0 to Ohio State? Probably not.

On Saturday, Michigan State didn’t lose 49-0 to Ohio State … because that was the score at halftime. Yes, halftime.

The Buckeyes were one point from hanging half a hundred on Tucker and his Spartans in 30 minutes. Those 30 minutes should give us one very clear outcome in the coaching carousel. These next few weeks of rumors, leverage plays, contract negotiations, leaks, buyout discussions, firings and — ultimately — coaching hires contain so many uncertain tension points and unresolved questions, but we have at least one plot point we can count on.

Tucker, formerly LSU’s No. 1 target according to our friends at @LSUTigersWire, is clearly no longer going to be a central target for the Bayou Bengals and athletic director Scott Woodward.

Getting crushed by 49 points in a 30-minute sequence will not make LSU want to match the money Michigan State is throwing at Tucker:

Tucker has already leveraged his situation. His Michigan State tenure is just starting. He went on Draymond Green’s talk show (yes, Draymond now has a talk show) to reaffirm his love for Michigan State, going out of his way to an extent one would not associate with a coach ready to bolt for LSU or other places.

Tucker staying at Michigan State will shape LSU’s options. It will also shape USC’s choices if Luke Fickell says no to Mike Bohn.

Tucker staying at Michigan State means Dave Aranda could become LSU’s second or third choice behind Jimbo Fisher and Lincoln Riley. Unless there’s a Jimbo or Lincoln plot twist, LSU could soon be in a position to bring Aranda back to Baton Rouge, two years after Aranda led LSU to a national title as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator.

Stay with Trojans Wire for complete coaching carousel coverage. We are heading into the home stretch.

Here’s our guide to coaching carousel scenarios from a USC perspective: