The Florida Gators may have their next head coach within 24 hours. It all depends on what Jon Sumrall wants to do... According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Sumrall has emerged as the clear front-runner for the job, as he is expected to choose between staying at Tulane or coming to Gainesville on Sunday morning. He also had interest from Auburn, but he seems to have cooled on that position.
Sumrall is in his second season at Tulane after having a strong two-year run at Troy previously. He hails from Alabama, but played his college football at Kentucky. While it remains to be seen if Kentucky opens up, the Wildcats seem to far back in the race for Sumrall to realistically go there right now. Of course, Sumrall seems to be waiting to see what Lane Kiffin decides to do here shortly, too.
One would think that if Kiffin were to leave Ole Miss for LSU that Sumrall may entertain going to the school Kiffin does not pick. Kiffin's Rebels finished the regular season at 11-1 and are a lock to make the College Football Playoff. If Alabama loses the Iron Bowl to Auburn, the Rebels will go to Atlanta to play Georgia in the SEC Championship. Tulane is still alive to win the Group of Five out of the ACC, too.
With a win over the Charlotte 49ers, the Green Wave will play North Texas in the AAC Championship.
Jon Sumrall is expected to decide between Tulane or Florida by Sunday
We are getting into unprecedented territory. One would think that if Tulane was playing for potentially the right to make it into the College Football Playoff that Sumrall would stay put and finish out the season with the Greenies. Well, look what happened to Eric Morris over at North Texas... He is leaving Denton after North Texas' greatest season ever to take over the truly awful Oklahoma State Cowboys.
The funny part in all this is Florida played Tulane in last year's Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa. The Gators kicked the Green Wave's skull in during their 33-8 beatdown. This has certainly left a sour taste in the mouth of Gators fans. Why would they want to sign up for another Group of Five head coach out of Louisiana after how poorly the Billy Napier era went for them in Gainesville? Are there other options?
Well, the next choice might be from Tampa. South Florida head coach Alex Golesh is expected to decide between Arkansas and Florida. The Josh Heupel disciple has had success in-state and in the SEC before. Keep in mind that his wife hails from Arkansas. We are still so far away from figuring out who is going to be leading whichever Power Four and Group of Five team. Can December get here?
For now, expect for Florida fans to get some clarity on the Sumrall situation by Sunday morning.