Auburn athletic director John Cohen will need to look elsewhere besides Tulane for the Tigers' next head football coach.
According to FootballScoop.com's John Brice, Jon Sumrall has withdrawn his name from the Auburn coaching search.
2 coaches not taking jobs: Multiple sources tell @FootballScoop that Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall has withdrawn from Auburn’s coaching search as Florida continues pursuit. Drew Cronic was offered & declined the UAB job, multiple sources w direct knowledge tell @FootballScoop
— John Brice (@JohnDBrice1) November 29, 2025
It's a big blow to Auburn as the 43-year-old Sumrall had been at the top of the list for the Tigers since the dismissal of Hugh Freeze on November 2. He has ties to Alabama, growing up in Huntsville and attending Grissom HS, and has experience coaching in the SEC at Ole Miss and Kentucky. In four years as a head coach, Sumrall has a 41-11 record, including leading the Green Wave to a 9-2 record thus far this season.
With Sumrall now out of the search, Cohen and Auburn will likely turn to current interim head coach DJ Durkin, given that other coaches, such as Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz, have recently signed contract extensions.
Auburn hosts No. 10 Alabama in its final regular-season game on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT.