Paul Finebaum believes Auburn may already have the perfect answer for its coaching vacancy — and it’s a name Tiger fans would rally behind.
Speaking on The Matt Barrie Show, the ESPN analyst said the program’s leading option might be Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall. “The betting favorite at Auburn is top veteran coah,” Finebaum revealed, adding that the hire would make plenty of sense for both sides.
Sumrall, who guided Tulane to a Friday night win over Memphis, has steadily built a reputation as a disciplined, hard-nosed leader — exactly the kind of presence Auburn needs after its last two coaching experiments. His approach could bring a renewed energy to The Plains.
Finebaum didn’t hold back his approval of the potential match. “It’s not the hire that wows America, but if that ends up being the case — and we’re speculating — I think almost every Auburn fan I’ve talked to would be thrilled,” he said. “That job is so much better than it’s being given credit for.”
An Alabama native, Sumrall has deep SEC roots. He played at Kentucky and later returned as the Wildcats’ linebackers coach before successful head coaching stints at Troy and Tulane.
Offensively, his teams have shown the kind of consistency Auburn has been searching for in recent years. The Tigers’ inability to generate steady production has held them back — something Sumrall’s balanced, efficient style could quickly fix.
Landing a coach like Sumrall would be a bold statement from Auburn — a move signaling not just change, but a clear commitment to building for the future.