The much-expected announcement of Phillip Fulmer's departure from Tennessee has come and gone. Now that the decision has been made, it's time to begin looking ahead to who will be the next person occupying the sidelines in Knoxville. Here's my list of the top candidates I think would legitimately consider the job.

The original list was posted Friday, Nov. 7, and I provided my first update Wednesday, Nov. 12 after the following events happened:

• Butch Davis adamantly denied interest in the job. Contrary to many others, I'm going to take him for his word. Not every coach is Nick Saban. I never believed Davis was a legitimate possibility, though, so he was not included on my original list.
• Jon Gruden adamantly denied interest. I felt he was a stronger possibility than Davis, simply because of his ties to Knoxville. He was No. 5 on my original list and has been removed.
• Games were played Nov. 8. Minnesota laid an egg at home against Michigan, Texas Tech was dominant against Oklahoma State, and Cincinnati went into West Virginia and upset the Mountaineers. These three games had the most significant effect on my rankings.

I also updated the list Nov. 18 after another pair of names were scratched from the wish list:

• Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has been named head coach in waiting for the Longhorns. Doesn't matter how long he has to wait for that job. He isn't going anywhere. Muschamp was not in my top five in my last update but was in position to slide in if anyone else was scratched.
• Jim Harbaugh agreed to an extension at Stanford. He was at No. 5 on the list before that piece of news.

Now, I'm providing what should be my final update. My list has been narrowed to two candidates, and at this point I'd be shocked if Fulmer's replacement comes from outside the duo.

1. Brian Kelly

All Kelly's Cincinnati team has done since the Tennessee position opened up is win. I moved Kelly to the top of my list Nov. 12 after he took the Bearcats into Morgantown and defeated West Virginia, far before his name was being thrown around as much is it is now. The guys wins everywhere he goes, and I have no doubt he would do the same in Knoxville.

I don't have sources giving me inside information. All I have is a hunch that Kelly will be at UT next year. I had a similar hunch in March 2005 entering the NCAA basketball tournament when I picked a tiny school to make the Sweet 16 and said its coach should take over the Vols basketball program.

Just to refresh, that tiny school was Wisconsin-Milwaukee and that coach was Bruce Pearl. How'd that work out?

2. Lane Kiffin

Kiffin is only slightly behind Kelly on my wish list. I believe the former Oakland Raiders head coach can win games, but he hasn't proven it. Kelly has.

Rumors are swirling online that Kiffin will be named Fulmer's successor as soon as Monday. Supposedly, the online source has a history of knowing things like this (i.e. reported Scotty Hopson was committing to UT and Tyler Smith was returning for his junior season far before anyone else).

If the rumors are true, the Vols are coming out of this coach search just fine. Kiffin is a good young coach and will undoubtedly assemble an outstanding coaching staff that will be able to recruit.

3. Everybody Else

I'd be shocked to see anyone but Kelly or Kiffin to be at UT. I've really only heard a lot of talk around three other candidates, and here's why they won't be in Knoxville.

• Mike Leach really hasn't done anything worth noting on the national landscape before this season. He has much more history of not competing with the Big 12 powers while at Texas Tech, and he hasn't proven to be the great recruiter UT needs. It's easy to pick up the scraps in the state of Texas and still compete. The same can't be said for this area.
• Tim Brewster's name has cooled as Minnesota's season has done the same. He's a great recruiter, but not proven as a head coach yet.
• Troy Calhoun has popped up as a possible replacement. He's the coach at Air Force for anyone who didn't know the name. Not sure where this one came from, but I don't see a chance of it happening.