It’s my understanding that the RNC/GOPe either have or are about to change the rules from last convention eliminating the 8 state requirement, so as to make literally anyone eligible for the nomination.
At least for the second time around, of which you can bet your bottom dollar they’ll see to it a second or third time will happen.
Therefore anyone anybody names is a possibility.
That is not what the rules actually say, although it has been repeated and reported many times. Even without a change, they can nominate Sessions, Palin, Bachmann, Jindal, Jeb, Rubio, Christie, Ronald Reagan, or Robert E. Lee on a second or later ballot.
“RULE NO. 40 (b) Each candidate for nomination for President of the United States and Vice President of the United States shall demonstrate the support of a majority of the delegates from each of eight (8) or more states, severally, prior to the presentation of the name of that candidate for nomination. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these rules or any rule of the House of Representatives, to demonstrate the support required of this paragraph a certificate evidencing the affirmative written support of the required number of permanently seated delegates from each of the eight (8) or more states shall have been submitted to the secretary of the convention not later than one (1) hour prior to the placing of the names of candidates for nomination pursuant to this rule and the established order of business.”
It's not a rule change if they allow other names after the first ballot. Those candidates just have to have support from delegates who are free (under rule 16) to vote for those candidates.