Broncos coach: Jack Del Rio wasn't in LA to discuss USC

The college football season is barely a month old, but the silly season is already in high gear.

Twitter was abuzz Monday after University of Houston tennis coach Patrick Sullivan reported seeingDenver Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio at Los Angeles International Airport, the same spot where Lane Kiffin was fired as USC head coach only hours earlier.

But Broncos head coach John Fox said Monday that Del Rio was with him at a Denver steakhouse at the same time as the supposed sighting at LAX.

Del Rio, a former USC linebacker, is regarded as one of the top candidates to succeed Kiffin, who was fired five games into his fourth season with the Trojans. Boise State head coach Chris Petersen and Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin also are considered possibilities by some.

Franklin refused to discuss the USC vacancy during his press conference Monday.

With such a high-profile vacancy and social media spreading rumors like wildfire, there will be plenty more corrections and no comments across football until USC hires its next coach.

Follow Dan Greenspan on Twitter @DanGreenspan.