The Auburn Tigers are still on the hunt for their next head football coach following the dismissal of now-former program leader Hugh Freeze earlier this season.
Auburn is one of the most attractive landing spots in this year’s coaching carousel, among the likes of LSU, Florida and Arkansas. As such, the Tigers could very well land a popular up-and-coming name in the college football coaching world.
During an appearance with “The Paul Finebaum Show” on Friday, ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel identified Tulane coach Jon Sumrall as the “prime candidate” for Auburn’s coaching vacancy.
“I think Jon Sumrall has been a prime candidate and target from the start of that job,” Thamel said. “There’s obviously complications with Tulane being a potential Playoff team. But, it wouldn’t be a surprise if that’s where Auburn ends up.”
Sumrall has Tulane poised with an 8-2 record and No. 24 position in the College Football Playoff rankings as the Green Wave head into the final stretch of their 2025 season. If his team is able to win out, they could play their way into the 12-team College Football Playoff field — which could complicate his future with a prospective team like Auburn.
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Sumrall is a proven winner as a head coach. After notching a 23-4 overall record as Troy’s program leader from 2022-23, the 43-year-old coach took over at Tulane. He amassed a 9-5 record in his first season with the Green Wave before embarking on this year’s impressive campaign.
Sumrall and Tulane will face off against Temple in their next college football matchup on Saturday afternoon. The program will then close out its regular-season schedule with game against Charlotte.
Auburn, led by interim head coach D.J. Durkin, will matchup against Mercer in a tune-up game this weekend before facing off against Alabama in an Iron Bowl clash to close out the 2025 regular season.