Auburn heading back to coaching carousel after Hugh Freeze was fired during his third year in the program. The Tigers went 15-19 under Freeze, including a paltry 6-15 in SEC play. Now they are looking to hire their fourth coach in five years.
Freeze became a surprise hire when he returned to the SEC more than six years after he was fired from the company. Ole Miss in the midst of both personal and professional scandals. At Auburn, he was unable to recapture the magic of his Rebel performance, never winning Alabama and hasn't even posted a winning record in three years. In fact, his success almost exactly mirrored that of Bryan Harsin, who dropped out in his second year.
Auburn's next coach is facing an intriguing moment. They will have to rebuild the program's identity in the highly competitive SEC. Like Freese and Harsin before them, they'll have to do it in the shadow of national title contenders Alabama and Georgia.
As the college football coaching carousel turns, the debate over representation is taking a new turn.
Richard Johnson
Auburn won the national championship in 2010 and returned to the title game in 2013. The program has championship potential, but a new coach will have to rebuild it from the ground up. Below is a selection of CBS Sports Insiders coaches who could quickly be on Auburn's radar.
Former Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher
Fisher's tenure at Texas A&M ended disastrously after he was paid the largest ransom in history. college football history go away. In his final two seasons after signing the No. 1 all-time contract, Fisher went 11-15, including 6-9 in SEC play. But while his recent work has been unimpressive, Fischer remains one of the most successful coaches of the 21st century.
IN FloridaFisher went 83–23 and won the 2013 national championship. He also led the Aggies to a No. 4 finish and an Orange Bowl victory in 2020, one of the Aggies' best seasons in 30 years. His 2013 team is one of the most talented squads ever.
If Fisher were to transfer to Auburn, he would quickly become one of the top recruiters in the SEC again. Returning to college football For Fischer, it will not be about money, but about restoring his name. Auburn could use a coach with a bigger chip on his shoulder.
Former Penn State coach James Franklin
When University of Pennsylvania unceremoniously fired FranklinHe said his new goal was simply to win a national championship somewhere else. Auburn is a program with championship potential, and Franklin ticks many of the program's most important boxes, namely building a solid football organization.
Franklin is one of the best coaches in college football. He had six 10-win seasons and five AP top-10 finishes at Penn State. Previously he also headed Vanderbilt to 18 wins in two years and reached the national semi-finals in 2025. Auburn will more than have Franklin back, leading the Tigers to a consistent 10-win run after perhaps the most embarrassing stretch in program history.
Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz
A disciple of Gus Malzahn, Drinkwitz has built some of the most dynamic teams in the SEC since arriving at Missouri in 2020. Over the past three seasons, the Tigers are 27-6, including a Cotton Bowl win and an AP Top 10 ranking in 2023. The program is also on the verge of contending for the College Football Playoff during another hot start in 2025.
At Auburn, he will be able to expand his recruiting capabilities and compete for the best players in the country. Additionally, Drinkwitz has a braggadocious personality that would be an immediate favorite at Auburn, especially in contrast to the tough Kalen DeBoer at Alabama. Auburn is at its best when the program pushes the envelope.
Tulane coach John Sumrall
Sumrall is one of the fastest rising coaches in college football after a sensational coaching stint at Troy and Tulane. According to Brandon Marcello of CBS Sports, he is the team's No. 1 ranked starter. The Huntsville, Alabama native took over the Troy program after three straight losing seasons and quickly turned it into a winner, compiling a 23-4 record with two Sun Belt titles in two seasons. The next year he went to Tulane and led the program to the American title game with an 8-5 record, including 7-1 in the American game.
former Kentucky The linebacker has extensive SEC experience, having served as defensive coordinator under Mark Stoops and linebackers coach at Ole Miss. He created physical defensive teams that controlled the game, but as a head coach he consistently found great offensive coordinators and players, including the quarterback. Darian MensahI'm running back Mahie Hughes and running back Kimani Vidal.
In addition, Sumrall's wife went to Auburn. Understanding the Plains never hurts.
The former Auburn offensive coordinator has quickly become one of the fastest-rising coaches in college football. Dillingham led his alma mater to a Big 12 Championship and a College Football Playoff appearance in his sophomore year, culminating in a double-overtime loss to the team. Texas in the quarterfinals. Injuries derailed Arizona State's 2025 team, but the Sun Devils still managed to pull through Iowa with a backup defender.
Dillingham would be exactly the kind of young, exciting offensive mind that attracts elite defenders to the Plains. However, his greatest strengths are as an administrator and communicator, which would allow him to build an elite SEC staff. He coached under Mike Norvell, Dan Lanning and Gus Malzahn.
The Yellow Jackets' CFP hopes took a hit after losing to North Carolina State in Week 10, but Key still did a sensational job in Atlanta. Georgia Tech reached No. 7 in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2009 and won over the former offensive line coach's big physical personality.
Key has extensive recruiting experience in the Deep South, including the key metro Atlanta area. He also served as the offensive line coach at Alabama – it never hurts to have someone with Nick Saban bona fides on that staff. Moreover, Key quickly developed a strong personality within the program.
Golesh has accelerated the coaching rebuild after taking charge of one of the country's top teams in the Group of Six. In each of the last two seasons, the Bulls went 7-6 to a 6-2 start, including a big upset win over Florida in a non-conference game. South Florida posted a 4–29 record in the three seasons before Golesh; he compiled a 20–14 record.
former Tennessee The offensive coordinator boasts one of the most exciting experiences in sports. Golesh was born in Russia and grew up in Ohio. He coached primarily in the Midwest before joining Josh Heupel in UKF in 2020. He now offers a diverse offense that incorporates aspects of Tennessee's swing and throw game but is heavy on the physicality of the field. Toledo tree. Golesh also made a name for himself as a recruiter for The American magazine.
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