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Auburn’s Next Football Coach: 5 Potential Replacements for Hugh Freeze

Dan Girolamo Written by Sports EditorDan Girolamo
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James Franklin fist pumps.

The Auburn Tigers (3-4) are going backwards this season. After a 3-0 start, Auburn has lost four consecutive games. All four losses have been to SEC opponents, with three of them coming by seven points or less. If Auburn fires Hugh Freeze, here are five candidates who could become the next head coach.

James Franklin

James Franklin is by far the best available head coaching free agent.

You’ve all seen his record against top-10 teams — 4-21. It’s even worse against Ohio State and Michigan — 4-18.

Calling out Franklin’s inability to win the big game is totally fair. However, Penn State was the underdog in the majority of those games. If the biggest knock against Franklin was that he couldn’t beat Ohio State and Michigan, two superior teams, then he’s still a better coach than 85% of Division I.

Franklin is an excellent recruiter. He won at Vanderbilt, which used to be a doormat in the SEC, and led them to consecutive nine-win seasons.

Franklin then took over Penn State fresh off the death penalty and brought them to national prominence, highlighted by a win in the 2023 Rose Bowl and a spot in the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinals.

Franklin has the chance to revive a third program if given the opportunity at Auburn.

Jon Sumrall

In a short period, Jon Sumrall has become one of the hottest coaching candidates.

Sumrall became a head coach for the first time in 2022 at Troy. In two seasons, Sumrall went 23-4 and parlayed that success into the head job at Tulane.

After a 9-5 record a season ago, Tulane is 6-1 to start the 2025 campaign.

Sumrall has SEC ties, having played and coached at Kentucky. Sumrall is destined for the SEC. However, it might be at his alma mater, as Kentucky could fire Mark Stoops at the end of the season.

Kenny Dillingham

Kenny Dillingham is 35 years old and has been the head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils for three seasons. However, age is only a number, as Dillingham has turned Arizona State into a Big 12 contender.

After a 3-9 record in his rookie campaign, Dillingham guided the Sun Devils to an 11-3 record in 2024, powered by a dominant 45-19 win over Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship.

Arizona State then pushed Texas to the brink in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals before losing in double overtime.

Dillingham previously coached at Auburn, serving as the offensive coordinator in 2019.

Fran Brown

Like Dillingham at Arizona State, Fran Brown has worked quickly to become a top head coaching candidate.

After working as an assistant coach at various schools for over a decade, Brown became the head coach of the Syracuse Orange in November 2023.

In his first year, Brown led the Orange to a 10-3 record and a win in the Holiday Bowl.

Brown has Syracuse at 3-4 this season, but his name will certainly be mentioned during this coaching cycle.

Eliah Drinkwitz

If Auburn wants to hire a coach from another SEC school, Missouri’s Eliah Drinkwitz is the top option.

Drinkwitz has been the head coach of the Missouri Tigers since 2020. After a 17-19 record in his first three seasons, Drinkwitz is 27-6 since 2023.

Drinkwitz will be in high demand this offseason if he wants to leave. Penn State and Florida will likely inquire about Drinkwitz’s services.

Dan Girolamo Written by Sports EditorDan Girolamo
Dan is a multifaceted content creator who specializes in sports, pop culture, and entertainment. His entertainment work has been featured on Digital Trends, where he has interviewed Brendan Fraser, Jamie Lee Curtis, Alison Brie, Adam DeVine, Sadie Sink, Chris O'Dowd, Machine Gun Kelly, and Frank Grillo. Dan's entertainment work has also been featured on Coming Soon, Hidden Remote, and WatchMojo. Dan's other passion in life revolves around sports, graduating from Marist College with a degree in Sports Communication and Journalism. From columns about the latest in New York sports to gambling predictions, Dan continues to find success in written and broadcast journalism. Previous written work can be found at Unafraid Show, while broadcast clips can be seen on WAVE.tv and CBS Sports.
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