Arkansas waiting on Alex Golesh might cost them another top coaching candidate

The college football coaching carousel took a major turn as ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall has emerged as the clear front-runner for the Florida Gators’ head coaching job. With several major SEC programs preparing to make moves, Sumrall’s rise to the top of Florida’s board is creating ripple effects across the conference, especially for Arkansas.

Thamel detailed the landscape on Saturday, saying:

“There are huge dominoes to fall after Lane Kiffin… Let’s start with Tulane coach Jon Sumrall. He’s had significant interest from Auburn, significant interest from Florida, he could end up in the Ole Miss–LSU mix depending on what Lane does. Sources told me last night and reiterated this morning that Sumrall is the clear favorite to be the next head coach at the University of Florida.”

With Florida’s interest now intensifying and Sumrall reportedly the leading candidate, the Gators appear close to locking in their next era.

Why Sumrall Has Become a Hot Commodity

Sumrall has quickly become one of the fastest-rising coaches in the country. In just two seasons at Tulane, he has:

• Produced back-to-back 9+ win seasons

• Positioned Tulane at 9–2 overall and 6–1 in AAC play this season

• Kept the Green Wave firmly in the AAC Championship hunt

• Maintained elite competitiveness immediately following the departure of longtime head coach Willie Fritz

His leadership, defensive background, and ability to stabilize and elevate a program have made him one of the most coveted names on the market.

How This Impacts Arkansas’ Coaching Search

Sumrall’s rise to the top of Florida’s list is big news for Arkansas, but not in the way Razorback fans hoped.

Arkansas had Sumrall on its own short list, viewing him as a strong fit for a rebuilding program that needs stability, toughness, and identity. With Sumrall now trending heavily toward Gainesville, it removes one of the Razorbacks’ highest-upside candidates from consideration.

The concern for Arkansas? The longer they wait for USF head coach Alex Golesh’s decision, the more top candidates they risk losing. Golesh has been the apparent top target for the Razorbacks, but with other programs making aggressive moves, Arkansas risks being left behind in a rapidly accelerating hiring cycle.

The Domino Effect Across the SEC

Thamel emphasized that everything still hinges on Lane Kiffin’s next move, which could ignite a chain reaction across Ole Miss, LSU, Auburn, and Florida. But with Florida seemingly zeroing in on Sumrall, the first domino may be ready to fall. And once one major SEC job officially opens or closes, the rest of the market will move quickly.

If Sumrall finalizes a deal with Florida, the Gators would secure one of the top rising coaches in college football with him being a strong cultural fit and a stabilizing force for a program hungry for a fresh direction.

For Arkansas, it increases the urgency to accelerate their own search. With Sumrall likely off the board and other major SEC programs poised to make moves, the Razorbacks cannot afford to wait much longer on Golesh or any other top candidate. The coaching carousel is spinning fast and the programs that act decisively will be the ones that land their guy.