In the whirlwind of speculation engulfing college football’s coaching carousel—dominated by headlines about Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss, LSU, and Florida—several other programs are quietly navigating their own searches for new leadership. Institutions like Arkansas, Auburn, Penn State, UCLA, and Stanford, among a select few, remain in the market for fresh head coaches.
Yet, one standout candidate has reportedly made his intentions clear, setting his sights on a specific opportunity.
Jon Sumrall, the dynamic leader of Tulane, was once a prime contender for openings at LSU and Florida, even topping betting odds for those positions. Though those pursuits seem to have faded, sources indicate the ambitious tactician is still bound for the Southeastern Conference.
Washington Post contributor Steven Godfrey shared this insight on a recent installment of the “Phantom Island” podcast, pointing to Auburn as Sumrall’s likely destination. The Tigers are actively seeking a replacement for Hugh Freeze, who was dismissed earlier this season.
“Jon Sumrall’s going to Auburn,” Godfrey said. “As of right now, Jon Sumrall is going to Auburn. I’ve heard conflicting schedules on how Auburn would handle a Tulane playoff run. But yeah, if you’re Auburn right now, you need to be cheering against Tulane (qualifying for the College Football Playoff).”
Sumrall’s ascent in the coaching ranks has been nothing short of meteoric. He first turned heads with a stellar 23-4 mark during his tenure at Troy, a performance that propelled him to the helm at Tulane. There, he’s delivered an impressive 40-11 ledger across just two campaigns, transforming the Green Wave into a consistent contender.
Right now, Tulane holds the No. 24 spot in the College Football Playoff rankings. A strong finish—including victories against Temple and Charlotte, capped by an AAC title—could propel them into the national playoff conversation, potentially delaying any move by Sumrall to the Plains.
Godfrey highlighted yet another potential complication that Auburn boosters might dread. While negotiations appear advanced enough to suggest momentum toward a deal, an unexpected twist from a rival could upend everything.
“Sumrall’s going, and the other thing that you [don’t] want as an Auburn fan—I’m not saying it’s going to come down to this, because I do think conversations have progressed to a point where plans are being made—but you don’t want Ole Miss to come crashing in at the last second and saying like, ‘All right, we just lost Lane (Kiffin) to Florida. Let’s try and get an offer out to Jon ASAP,’” Godfrey said.
As the regular season winds down and playoff implications sharpen, the coming days could clarify whether Sumrall’s path leads definitively to Auburn—or if the chaos of conference realignments and postseason success throws an unforeseen curveball into the mix.
For now, the Tigers hold the inside track on landing a coach who’s proven he can build winners from the ground up.
