If I am CMC and wanted to leave ISU Id personally go Nebraska. That is the job with the highest upside. Big Ten East and SEC are just no go, too stiff of competition, being a really good coach only gets you so far, the ACC and Pac 12 being stuck on the coasts isnt that appealing. Makes me wonder if we can dodge Nebraska opening next year ISU might be a decent place for him to stick around, all depends on his family situation though is my guess, I do think CMC is a bit frustrated with his ability to recruit at Iowa St., just a darn uphill climb no matter how good of a coach he is.
Interesting that CMC Dad was in a similar postion on the high school level with a dominate team in the same city that apparently recruited pretty heavily, granted Iowa isnt dominant but they are darn consistent, Ferentz has been a heck of a coach for them.
I know you would laugh but if college football doesnt get its house in order by going decentralized I could see CMC walking away and going FCS, like a Brookings or a Youngstown. Seems like it would be a good place if you are just interested in the mentor and football strategy aspect.
So much depends on his immediate family on all this, especially when kids are young, as a parent with young kids I can tell you no career or geographical moves are happening in my house till kids are older.