LSU coaching search: Eli Drinkwitz, Jon Sumrall reportedly names to watch if Lane Kiffin passes on Tigers

It’s no secret who the top target in the LSU coaching search is. Lane Kiffin is a wanted man and not just in Baton Rouge. The Florida Gators are after him as well, giving the current Ole Miss head coach options. Of course, LSU is going to fight for his signature until either winning or losing out.

So, what are the options if Kiffin decides to remain in Oxford or go to Gainesville? According to Scott Rabalais of The Baton Rouge Advocate, there are two names to watch for. Both should be quite familiar to LSU fans for different reasons.

“Two of the names to consider right now appear to be Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz and Tulane coach Jon Sumrall,” Rabalais said.

Rabalais added to his report, noting the interesting dynamic of LSU potentially hiring a coach already in the state of Louisiana. They passed up on Billy Napier during the program’s last search, who was with the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns at the time. He ended up at Florida, while Brian Kelly took over the Tigers. Of course, those decisions are why they are in these current positions.

Hiring Sumrall is not an issue for LSU, according to Rabalais. If anything, Tulane being involved in the College Football Playoff picture makes the water muddy, not the fact that he is an in-state coach. Tulane has an opportunity to make the 12-team field as the Group of Five representative, needing to win the American.

Sumrall certainly is a popular name in the coaching world, seeming destined to land an SEC job one way or the other. This is his second season as Tulane’s head coach after spending the past couple of years at Troy. In total, Sumrall sits at 40-11 overall with two conference championships and another conference championship game appearance.

As for Drinkwitz, Missouri still has two games remaining on its 2025 schedule. A trip to Norman to face off against Oklahoma, followed by a rivalry game in Fayetteville vs. Arkansas. Mizzou is not likely to be involved when it comes to the College Football Playoff, no matter the results.

Drinkwitz took over in Columbia after one season at Appalachian State. Things started slowly, having a record of 17-19 through three seasons. But back-to-back campaigns of double-digit wins put Missouri in the national conversation. Even if expectations might have fallen short in 2025, Drinkwitz remains a sought-after candidate by other schools.