Following a 10-3 loss to Kentucky, Auburn made the decision to fire head coach Hugh Freeze. The former head coach spent three years with the program, compiling a 15-19 record overall, as well as a 6-16 record in the SEC. D.J Durkin is the current interim head coach.
Following the decision, multiple head coaches have been rumored to take over for Freeze, including Ole Miss’s Lane Kiffin. Auburn is just one of the top jobs available in College Football at the moment, with vacancies also at Florida, LSU, and Penn State.
Two Top Candidates to Replace Hugh Freeze Named
During the latest episode of “CBS Sports’ College Football Insiders,” College Football analyst Chris Hummer revealed his potential list of names to take over at Auburn. Kiffin was not named among these options as the Tigers could move for a potential ACC coach.
“A couple of names I would fully anticipate being on the radar to replace Hugh Freeze, in no particular order; Brent Key, who’s from Alabama and has coached in the state of Alabama. Jon Sumrall has also had continued success at Tulane, who is also from the state.” Hummer shared.
Jon Sumrall led the Troy Trojans to a 23-4 record and an AP Poll ranking in two seasons, earning Sun Belt Coach of the Year honors for his first campaign at the helm. That success earned him the opportunity with the Tulane Green Wave.
Currently, according to PFSN’s playoff meter, Tulane is still in contention for a playoff spot, sitting behind Memphis, North Texas, and South Florida in the conference. According to the PFM, they have a small but possible 11.39% chance of reaching the postseason.
In four years as a college head coach, Sumrall has amassed a 38-11 record at Tulane and Troy combined. He’s also proved popular with every fan base he’s been around, while proving a magnet for talented playmakers in the transfer portal.
“I’m very content,” Sumrall told Carl Prather of WAFF 48 earlier this month. “I love what I’m doing, where I’m doing it, and who I’m doing it with.” The Tulane head coach also claimed that “if I wanted to be a Power Four coach or if the decision is about money, I wouldn’t be at Tulane.”
Meanwhile, with ties to Alabama as a former offensive line coach, Brent Key will at least be on Auburn’s radar. Before last week, they were undefeated in the ACC; however, following a loss to NC State, their playoff chances have shortened slightly.
Meanwhile, Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels are 8-1 on the season. With the Ole Miss head coach already being linked to every SEC job under the sun, including the Florida Gators, Auburn will most likely move for a more realistic option.
“I got a question last week about the openings, and people writing that you are going to get this job, and have this job and all that,” Kiffin stated, after learning that Auburn had made the decision to fire Freeze.
With a potential number of recruiters looking to flip-flop the decision to hire Freeze, Auburn players will also have a 30-day window to enter the Transfer Portal in January. The Tigers will need to move fast to secure what they have, and they don’t have the time to wait around for the Ole Miss head coach.