Auburn Linked to ‘Prime Candidate’ as Teaching Rumors Warmth Up

[ad_1] The Auburn Tigers are nonetheless on the hunt for his or her subsequent head soccer coach following the dismissal of now-former program chief Hugh Freeze earlier this season.

Auburn is likely one of the most tasty touchdown spots on this 12 months's teaching carousel, among the many likes of LSU, Florida and Arkansas. As such, the Tigers may very nicely land a well-liked up-and-coming title within the faculty soccer teaching world.

Throughout an look with "The Paul Finebaum Present" on Friday, ESPN faculty soccer insider Pete Thamel recognized Tulane coach Jon Sumrall because the "prime candidate" for Auburn's teaching emptiness.

"I feel Jon Sumrall has been a chief candidate and goal from the beginning of that job,” Thamel mentioned. “There’s clearly issues with Tulane being a possible Playoff crew. However, it wouldn’t be a shock if that’s the place Auburn finally ends up.”

Sumrall has Tulane poised with an 8-2 report and No. 24 place within the School Soccer Playoff rankings because the Inexperienced Wave head into the ultimate stretch of their 2025 season. If his crew is ready to win out, they might play their method into the 12-team School Soccer Playoff area — which may complicate his future with a potential crew like Auburn.

<img id="11091707" alt="Auburn helmet" caption="ATHENS, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 5: An Auburn Tigers helmet sits in the bench area during the third quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on October 5, 2024 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)" credit="" sourcealt="" sources="[]" fetchpriority="auto" loading="lazy" width="6000" height="4000" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" src="color:transparent;aspect-ratio:inherit;object-fit:cover" sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 1536px, (min-width: 768px) 768px, 100vw" srcset="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2177475036.jpg?w=640&quality=80&webp=1 640w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2177475036.jpg?w=750&quality=80&webp=1 750w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2177475036.jpg?w=1000&quality=80&webp=1 1000w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2177475036.jpg?w=1200&quality=80&webp=1 1200w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2177475036.jpg?w=1360&quality=80&webp=1 1360w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2177475036.jpg?w=1600&quality=80&webp=1 1600w" bad-src="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2177475036.jpg?w=1600&quality=80&webp=1"/> Extra Soccer: One Apparent Answer Emerges From Lane Kiffin’s ‘Ugly’ Ole Miss State of affairs

Sumrall is a confirmed winner as a head coach. After notching a 23-4 total report as Troy's program chief from 2022-23, the 43-year-old coach took over at Tulane. He amassed a 9-5 report in his first season with the Inexperienced Wave earlier than embarking on this 12 months's spectacular marketing campaign.

Sumrall and Tulane will face off towards Temple of their subsequent faculty soccer matchup on Saturday afternoon. This system will then shut out its regular-season schedule with sport towards Charlotte.

Auburn, led by interim head coach D.J. Durkin, will matchup towards Mercer in a tune-up sport this weekend earlier than going through off towards Alabama in an Iron Bowl conflict to shut out the 2025 common season.