Auburn Coaching Search: CBS Sports names 7 candidates to replace Hugh Freeze

Auburn was the latest program to fire a head coach, with them moving on from Hugh Freeze on Sunday. Now, CBS Sports is then the latest outlet to release a hot board of possible candidates down on The Plains.

CBS Sports posted the list of potential hires for the Tigers following Freeze’s firing this afternoon. It features seven names on it, with three being current head coaches in the Power Four, two more options that are known at this point out of the American, and two high-profile names who could look to get back into coaching in the FBS.

Again, this is just the next board of candidates that has come out after today’s news. On3’s Pete Nakos and AuburnSports, as well as those at ESPN have also put out lists at this point since Freeze was fired.

Here were the seven candidates, amidst the next opening on the carousel at Auburn, from CBS Sports:

Jimbo Fisher

Fisher has been out of college football since his record-setting firing in College Station in 2023, with his tenure being a disappointment with the Aggies. Still, he, with a resumé with Florida State and Texas A&M that includes recruiting success, a record of 128-48 (.727), and a national title in 2013, could certainly make a return to the sport if he wanted to and found a fit in a job, maybe like this one.

“Fisher’s tenure at Texas A&M ended in disastrous fashion after he was paid the biggest buyout in college football history to go away…But while his recent work has been underwhelming, Fisher remains one of the most successful coaches of the 21st century,” they wrote at CBS. “If Fisher went to Auburn, he’d quickly be one of the top recruiters in the SEC again. Coming back to college football wouldn’t be about money for Fisher — it would be about reclaiming his name. Auburn could use a coach with a big chip on his shoulder.”

James Franklin

Franklin is similar in that he’s looking for work after a high-priced firing, which came three weeks ago today in Happy Valley. He too has a level of success, being 128-60 (.681), including a berth just last season in the College Football Playoff, in his career at Vanderbilt and Penn State, that will justify him for another job in this cycle, with this being a potentially big-time one down on The Plains.

“When Penn State unceremoniously fired Franklin, he said his new goal was simply to go win a national championship somewhere else. Auburn is a program with championship upside, and Franklin checks many of the most important boxes for the program — namely building a robust football organization,” they wrote at CBS Sports. “Franklin is one of the highest-floor coaches in college football…Auburn would more than take Franklin leading the Tigers back to 10-win contention consistently after arguably the most embarrassing stretch in program history.”

Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz

Drinkwitz has built his own successful program in the SEC, being 56-27 (.675) in his career after one year at Appalachian State followed by six now at Missouri – specifically being 27-7 (.794) the past three seasons so far in CoMo. Now, after getting his first college job with Auburn back from 2010 to 2011, Coach Drink’ could decide to come back and take another step as a head coach.

“A Gus Malzahn disciple, Drinkwitz has created some of the most dynamic teams in the SEC since arriving at Missouri in 2020,” they wrote at CBS Sports. “At Auburn, he would be able to expand his recruiting chops and compete for the best players in the country. Furthermore, Drinkwitz has a trash-talking personality that would immediately become beloved at Auburn, especially in contrast to the cool Kalen DeBoer at Alabama. Auburn is at its best when the program is swinging for the fences.”

Tulane’s Jon Sumrall

Sumrall is a name that continuously has come up here even before the firing of Freeze, with that considering his ties to the state and personal ones to the Tigers’ university. His career so far, especially with plenty of prior background also in the conference, makes a case too, as he is 38-11 (.776) over four years as a head coach to this point at Troy and Tulane.

“Sumrall is one of the fastest-rising coaches in college football after sensational coaching jobs at Troy and Tulane. He is high on the team’s early hot board, according to CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello,” they wrote at CBS Sports. “(Sumrall) has deep experience in the SEC, working as defensive coordinator under Mark Stoops and linebackers coach at Ole Miss. He has built physical defensive teams that control games but has consistently found great offensive coordinators and players as a head coach.”

Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham

Dillingham is one of the more exciting younger coaches in college football right now, being 20-15 (.571) overall, but 17-6 (.739) the past two seasons so far, at his alma mater in Tempe. But, with a year of prior experience with the Tigers in 2019, this is another former staffer that they could possibly look at for Auburn.

“The former Auburn offensive coordinator has quickly become one of the fastest-rising coaches in college football…Dillingham would be the exact kind of young, exciting offensive mind that attracts elite quarterbacks to The Plains,” they wrote at CBS Sports. “However, his greatest strengths are as an administrator and communicator, which would allow him to build an elite SEC staff.”

Georgia Tech’s Brent Key

Key, also at his alma mater in Georgia Tech, is 26-17 (.605) to this point as a head coach, including being 8-1 (.889) so far this fall with the Yellow Jackets. That work, as well as a resumé that includes past experience in the region and conference, could have him in consideration to be brought back into, this time as a head coach, the SEC

“Key has still done a sensational job in Atlanta. (Georgia Tech)…has built a big, physical identity behind the former offensive line coach,” they wrote at CBS Sports. “Key has plenty of experience recruiting the Deep South, including the all-important Atlanta metro. He also served as offensive line coach at Alabama — it never hurts to have some Nick Saban bonafides in that state. More than anything, Key would quickly develop a strong identity in the program.”

South Florida’s Alex Golesh

Finally, Golesh is another one of those names on most hot boards from out of the Group of Five, with a record of 20-14 (.588) so far with USF. His resumé is a diverse one, and it could make him an ideal candidate to take this job for the Tigers.

“Golesh has sped back up coaching boards after leading one of the best Group of Six teams in the country,” they wrote at CBS Sports. “(He) boasts one of the most interesting backgrounds in the sport. Golesh was born in Russia and grew up in Ohio. He primarily coached in the Midwest before joining Josh Heupel at UCF in 2020. Now, he brings a diversified offense that embraces aspects of Tennessee’s veer-and-shoot, but plenty of physical running from the Toledo tree. Golesh has also established himself as a dynamite recruiter in The American.”