Tulane's season ends, Sumrall now Florida's full-time football coach

Jon Sumrall’s tenure as Tulane’s head football coach came to abrupt end Saturday afternoon at the hands of Ole Miss, 41-10, in Oxford. It was the second time the two teams had met and the outcome was similar. Ole Miss won the first game, 45-10, but that was when Lane Kiffin was the Rebels’ head coach and Sumrall wasn’t even on the Florida coaching radar.

After dealing with the death and funeral of his father and Christmas, Sumrall will be completing his coaching staff, dealing with players still undecided about entering the transfer portal and making sure the Gators have targeted players of need who are entering the portal from other schools. Reports from various sources indicate that Sumrall has pretty much found his assistant coaches but that situation is fluid as we will discover in the next several days.

Sixteen members of the 2025 Gators have already entered the transfer portal. It wouldn’t be a surprise if that number swells by 10-15 more. With quarterback DJ Lagway off to the portal and Tramell Jones Jr. as the only scholarship quarterback on the roster, at least one veteran quarterback will have to be found in the portal. The Gators did sign 4-star Will McBride from Tampa Jesuit a couple of weeks ago. Tackles on both sides of the ball will be a priority and Sumrall has to find depth at linebacker and the secondary.

How the coaching staff is shaping up:

Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks: Buster Faulkner (formerly Georgia Tech)

Running backs: Chad Scott (formerly Texas) or Derrick Nix (formerly Auburn)

Wide receivers: Marcus Davis (formerly Auburn)

Offensive line: Phil Trautwein (formerly Penn State)

Defensive coordinator/inside linebackers: Brad White (formerly Kentucky)

Defensive line/assistant head coach: Gerald Chatman (Florida holdover)

Outside linebackers: Bam Hardmon (formerly Tulane)

Corners: Brandon Harris (formerly UCF)

Nickels: Dae’one Wilkins (internal promotion, Florida analyst)

Safeties: Chris Collins (formerly Kentucky)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

First round games

No. 5 Oregon (12-1) 51, No. 12 James Madison (12-2) 34

No. 6 Ole Miss (12-1) 41, No. 11 Tulane (11-3) 10

No. 10 Miami (11-2) 10, No. 7 Texas A&M (11-2) 3

No. 9 Alabama (11-3) 34, No. 8 Oklahoma (10-3) 24

Quarterfinal games

December 31

No. 10 Miami (11-2) vs. No. 2 Ohio State (12-1), Cotton Bowl

January 1

No. 9 Alabama (11-3) vs. No. 1 Indiana (13-0), Rose Bowl

No. 5 Oregon (12-1) vs. No. 4 Texas Tech (12-1), Orange Bowl

No. 6 Ole Miss (12-1) vs. No. 3 Georgia (12-1), Sugar Bowl

PLAYOFF THOUGHTS

The blowout first round losses by Tulane and James Madison will have the whiners at Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, Texas and BYU blasting the system in the next few days, but before they complain they should take a look in the mirror. They voted for the playoff system that we have in place. If they don’t like it, think it’s too restrictive and shouldn’t include any team from the Group of Five, then they have only themselves to blame. If they weren't prepared for the consequences, they shouldn't have voted for the format.

As for Notre Dame, it is well past time to put an end to the special status it enjoys. If everybody else has to deal with conference schedules, conference championship games, etc., then Notre Dame should not be exempted.  

There will be new rules next year and beyond that, expansion is certain but whether it’s to 14 teams or 16 is still up for debate. If it’s 14, then Tony Petiti, the commissioner of the Big Ten, wants guarantees – a minimum of four each from the Big Ten and SEC with the other six spots broken up between the ACC, Big 12, Notre Dame and one from the Group of Five. The Group of Five doesn’t want that, but neither does the SEC. SEC commish Greg Sankey says he’s happy with 12, but if there is expansion he’s expected to favor a 16-team model that includes no guarantees, just the conference champs and the best at-large teams.

How the teams are selected promises to be a heated debate. The committee approach that gave us this year’s 12 teams hasn’t a lot of supporters, but do we want computers making the decisions? There has to be a better way of doing things, but nobody seems to have come up with a solution that seems practical enough for majority approval.  

Unfortunately, much of the decision will rest more with the television networks but even that promises to be . Does college football wish to continue with ESPN/ABC/Disney making the decisions about the playoff or should it be put up to a bid that would include Fox, CBS, NBC and cable giants like Amazon and YouTube?

TEXAS HIRES WILL MUSCHAMP AS DC

Steve Sarkisian is serious about bringing a national championship to Austin, which is why he hired Will Muschamp to replace Pete Kwiatkowski as the defensive coordinator. Texas ranked ninth in the SEC (38^thnationally) in total defense (335.7 yards per game) and 12^th in the league in pass defense. Muschamp is a noted defensive guru, who last coached on the field for Kirby Smart at Georgia in 2021-22. Georgia won back-to-back national championships those two years. The Poodles didn’t make the College Football Playoff in 2023 and lost to Notre Dame in the 2024 playoff.

Muschamp was the head coach in waiting at Texas when he accepted the Florida head coaching job in 2011. In four years at UF, Muschamp was 28-21. In five years as the head coach at South Carolina he was 28-30.

This is the second serious hire by Sarkisian, whose new running backs coach is former Gator assistant Jabar Juluke, whose relationship with Jadan Baugh could lure the stud running back to Austin.

SEC FOOTBALL

Alabama: Alabama’s stunning come-from-behind win over Oklahoma should end all speculation that Kalen DeBoer has one foot out the door and Michigan on his mind … Co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan is expected to take the offensive coordinator job at Michigan State.

Arkansas: Ryan Silverfield’s staff will include Marcus Johnson (OL), Clint Trickett (OC/QB), Morgan Turner (TE) and DeRon Wilson (Co-DC/secondary).

Auburn: Alex Golesh is lining up an impressive defensive staff. In addition to keeping DJ Durkin as his coordinator, he’s bringing in former Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks to coach the safeties and former Mississippi State defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler to coach the EDGE rushers. On the offensive side, Larry Porter has been hired to coach running backs and former Howard head coach Larry Scott will coach the tight ends.

Georgia: No. 3 seed Georgia has already been established as 6.5-point favorite to beat No. 6 seed Ole Miss in the College Football Playoff  quarterfinal in the Sugar Bowl.

Kentucky: Will Stein has hired Joe Sloan, formerly of LSU, to coach quarterbacks and coordinate the offense. Also Kolby Smith has departed Arkansas to coach Kentucky running backs … Former running backs coach and special teams coordinator Jay Boulware is going to West Virginia to work for Rich Rodriguez.

LSU: Lane Kiffin is trying to poach Sterling Lucas of South Carolina to become his defensive line coach.

Missouri: Eli Drinkwitz is hiring Tennessee director of player personnel Jake Breske and Auburn assistant GM Ryan Smith … Michigan offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey is expected to be hired to replace Kirby Moore, who left to be Washington State’s head coach.   

Oklahoma: Linebacker Taylor Heinecke is appealing to the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility. Heinecke spent his freshman year at Ohio State where he played lacrosse but that counts against the NCAA 5-year eligibility rule.

Ole Miss: The Rebels will face No. 3 seed Georgia in the second round of the College Football Playoff at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans after dusting Tulane, 41-10, Saturday … Pete Golding is hiring East Carolina’s John David Baker as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach. Former LSU interim head coach Frank Wilson has been hired to coach the running backs.

Texas A&M: Marcel Reed threw two interceptions including one in the end zone with just seconds remaining in the game and the Aggies ran for only 89 yards on 35 carries in the 10-3 loss to Miami in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

MICHIGAN’S DILEMMA

Michigan’s short list grew even shorter Friday. Scratch Kalen DeBoer. He will be coaching another week at Alabama thanks to the win over Oklahoma. Also, scratch Kenny Dillingham. He just signed a five-year extension to stay at Arizona State with a raise to $7.5 million and much more money for assistants.

So, where does that leave Michigan? Running out of options, that’s where, but not completely. Jedd Fisch’s name will probably be heard but he’s got a good thing going at Washington. A name that might get significant mention is former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. He has no buyout, not even a hint of a scandal in 21 seasons as a head coach and two unbeaten seasons.

AS THE PORTAL TURNS

Alabama: WR Aeryn Hampton; TE Josh Ford (from Oklahoma State)

Arkansas: OT Shaq McRoy; CB Keshawn Davila; LB Tavion Wallace

Auburn: CB A’mon Lane-Ganus; WR Horatio Fields; WR Perry Thompson; CB Raion Strader; EDGE Antonio Coleman; RB Damari Alston; LB Caleb Wheatland; TE Hollis Davidson; WR Malcolm Simmons; OG DeAndre Carter; OT Favour Edwin; WR Cam’Ron King; OT Seth Wilfred; CB Jay Crawford; DL Amaris Williams; LB Jamonta Walker; DL Malik Blocton; PK Towns McGough

FLORIDA: QB DJ Lagway; S Jordan Castell; TE Amir Jackson; RB KD Daniels; WR Muizz Tounkara; DL Tavorise Brown; S Teddy Foster; WR Aidan Mizell; S Josiah Davis; CB Jameer Grimsley; LB Grayson Howard; WR Tank Hawkins; OT Marcus Mascoll; DT Michai Boireau; TE Hayden Handsen; OT Enoch Wangoy

Georgia: TE Pearce Spurlin III; CB Daniel Harris

Kentucky: EDGE Landyn Watson; EDGE Steven Soles; WR David Washington Jr.; WR Preston Bowman

LSU: RB Ju’Juan Johnson; DL Ahmad Breaux; CB Ashton Stamps; WR Jelani Watkins; WR Khylan Billiot; DL Sydir Mitchell; RB Kaleb Jackson; OG Carius Curne; QB Colin Hurley

Mississippi State: S Tony Mitchell; DL Terrance Hibblier Jr.; S Stonka Burnside; OG Brennan Smith; OT Jimothy Lewis Jr.; TE Emeka Lloh; QB Luke Kromenhoek; TE Cam Ball

Missouri: RB Marquise Davis; RB Brendon Haygood; WR James Madison II; S Caleb Flagg; OG Nick Sharpe; TE Michael Smith; WR Josh Manning; EDGE Javion Hilson; WR Marquis Johnson; OG Henry Fenuku; QB Beau Pribula

Oklahoma: WR Jayden Gibson; CB Kendel Colby

South Carolina: PK Peyton Argent; LB Jaron Willis; WR Emazon Littlejohn; DL Zavion Hardy; LB Jaron Willis; OT Mac Walters; OG Trovon Baugh; OT Cason Henry; WR Brian Rowe

Tennessee: EDGE Kellen Lindstrom; DL Jamal Wallace; S Boo Carter; LB Brenden Anes; S Marcus Goree; QB Jake Merklinger

Texas: OG Connor Stroh; CB Santana Wilson; WR Aaron Butler; RB CJ Baxter; QB Trey Owens; PK Will Stone; RB Jerrick Gibson; S Derek Williams Jr.; CB Wardell Mack; DL Melvin Hills; LB Liona Lefau; RB Rickey Stewart Jr.

Texas A&M: LS Shea Freibaum

Vanderbilt: QB Drew Dickey; TE Maurice Veney; OT Misael Sandoval; QB Jeremy St. Hilaire; OG Cooper Starks; TE Witt Edwards