I know I am a week late, but I am trying to get this posted as soon as possible to get this off the board, so make sure to check out the other ones I have made. I will leave the link down below to all of my posts:
https://fanspo.com/nfl/s/college_football/p/ehkeG_1Wbo6Yb-/coach-candidate-tier-list-links
The Auburn job is a tough place to coach. You are in the SEC and are expected to be a top 25 year after year and they were so with Gus Malzahn, but Malzahn struggled to win 9 games after his first season going to the BCS. In 2017, he then made it back to the SEC Championship Game after reports that before the Alabama game is he may take the Arkansas job or Auburn fires him so they can find someone like Bobby Petrino or Mike Norvell. They then beat Alabama and clinched the SEC Championship spot and the AD gave Gus a massive extension. He spent three more years at Auburn and failed to get over the 8-5 or 9-4 hump once again. The new AD fired Malzahn and replaced him with Bryan Harsin from Boise State who they met at a hot tub. That is what the AD's words were, not mine. Ask any Auburn fan, they did not like the hire at all and cost the AD's job with reports that he will resign at the end of the year weeks before Harsin's tenure ever started. They found "reasoning" to fire Harsin and replaced him with Hugh Freeze because he was the only one (besides Gus) to beat Saban multiple times that was still currently coaching. The Hugh Freeze era didn't pan out and now they are looking for some one else to fix these problems.
First Person To Call
Jon Sumrall, Tulane (2024-?)
He's an Alabama native, why not try to bring him back home. He is a consistent winner that I believe most teams looking for a new coach would want. I think everyone fully expects Sumrall to land in the SEC soon, but it is a matter of when and not if. I personally believe he wants to replace Mark Stoops at his alma mater, but I could be wrong and he jumps at the opportunity to coach a top program like LSU, Auburn, or Florida.
Once Sumrall Is Off The Board
Eliah Drinkwitz, Missouri (2020-?)
A consistent winner in the SEC and he is a Gus Malzahn protege if Auburn is desperate enough to find a younger Gus. It is sounding like his days in Missouri have become numbered as not only is a top candidate in Auburn, but Penn State's board has seriously considered him as well. Unlike Kiffin, it seems like he is openly considering leaving and may be the first announced hire once Thanksgiving rolls around.
Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State (2023-?)
This is a name that has popped up recently for a couple of jobs but one I think is all smoke and no fire to it. Again, he is a Gus protege but has worked more closely with Norvell and his system and has found a way to make the Norvell system thrive on a bigger platform consistently and not as a faze as what his former boss has at Florida State.
James Franklin, former Penn State head coach (2014-25)
I think you know the trend, he will be considered for any job until he gets a job. Simple.
Dark Horse Candidates
Alex Golesh, USF (2023-?)
I like his chances. The amount of P5 jobs open, I expect Golesh to have a job locked up wherever he wants basically and I can see where all the dominoes fall that he takes the best possible job for him, which could be the Auburn job.
Jimbo Fisher, former Florida State (2010-17) and Texas A&M (2018-23) head coach
I don't like his chances as much. Before there was Gus Malzahn, years ago in the 90's you had Bobby Bowden's son, Terry coaching the Tigers who miraculously took them in his first season to an undefeated season and became national champions. His QB's coach was a young Jimbo Fisher. He later went on and worked with Saban and then back with the Bowden's and built a name for himself but he could return to Auburn and attempt to return to the top of the pyramid.
Coordinator Watch
Glenn Schumann, Georgia (DC; 2024-?)
This man has worked behind Mel Tucker, Dan Lanning, and Will Muschamp before taking the reins as the defensive playcaller. Been on Kirby Smart's staff for a long time dating back as a student assistant in 2008 at Alabama. He has never left Smart's sight and is due for his opportunity to lead a program. At this point, I fully expect him to become the next coming of Saban and Smart, it's just who wants to hire him or if he wants to leave.
Will Stein, Oregon (OC; 2023-?)
I'm a big fan of Stein. Former Louisville QB who backed up Teddy Bridgewater turned coach who was at UTSA a few years ago and coached this kid Frank Harris who I was a massive fan of. He has now gotten a reputation working with older QB's at Oregon and polishing their game and fixing their flaws. Bo Nix (former Auburn QB), Dillon Gabriel, and Dante Moore. Bring him to Auburn, let him go after a QB in the transfer portal, and I fully expect he would do the same with the new kid, I don't expect him to have success with someone who lacks college playing experience and can see him working well with someone who has a tape of playing against college defenses. In other (shorter) words, he is a Kliff Kingsbury like coach.
I Guess You Have To Add Him
Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss (2020-?)
I just gave Auburn fans PTSD. He was seen as the next head coach all the way to the last second when he signed a massive extension to stay at Ole Miss and Auburn swerved and hired Hugh Freeze. Will they go through the heartbreak once again?
There is my Auburn list. Let me know your thoughts and stay tuned to my New York Giants list coming out soon.