For a time, it seemed the Auburn Tigers were on a collision course to hire Tulane Green Wave head coach Jon Sumrall. Right before the Iron Bowl, Sumrall turned the opportunity down and pivoted to the Florida Gators. On the Sunday after the Tigers lost a 27-20 heartbreaker to the Alabama Crimson Tide at Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn moved quickly to hire Alex Golesh away from the USF Bulls.
Though AU hired someone who had never made the College Football Playoff, they didn't hire the coach who owns the dubious distinction of being seen as the worst of the 64 teams to ever make the CFP field since its inception in 2014.