Auburn’s head coach search is like a never-ending saga. Top favourites like John Sumrall and Alex Golesh have been attracting a lot of attention from the bright fields of Alabama, but neither of them has given a green signal for a job change. Sumrall wants to focus on his current run at Tulane, where he is cruising with a 7-2 record. On top of that, Kenny Dillingham, another candidate, just rejected the job. But now there’s another candidate who’s predicted to anchor the Tigers.

Chad Morris is buzzing as Auburn’s predicted next head coach, stirring excitement with his $12 million net worth backing his comeback. Known for his offensive mind from Arkansas and SMU days, Morris left a mark despite mixed stints. In the recent Wunderfan Instagram post, Morris is named beside the Auburn job. Morris started as a successful head coach at Texas and racked up an impressive 178-43 record over 16 seasons. His Lake Travis Cavaliers teams won back-to-back undefeated titles, proving his knack for building winners.

Then, in 2010, he jumped to college ball as Tulsa’s offensive coordinator before catching a big break at Clemson. There, he improved the Tigers’ offense, posting a 42-11 record over four seasons, earning him a six-year $1.3 million contract. His first shot as a head coach came at SMU. The record wasn’t flashy with a 14-22 over three seasons. But you could see the progress, ending with a solid 7-5 years. That was enough to catch Arkansas’s eye, landing him a six-year, $21 million deal. But there he ran into a few bumps with a 4-18 record and no conference wins.

And Chad Morris is no stranger to Auburn football either. In 2019, Gus Malzahn brought Morris on as Auburn’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. But when Malzahn got fired, the new guy, Bryan Harris, decided not to keep him around. The offense started slowly and sat 12th in the SEC in scoring. But then things finally clicked. They put together back-to-back big games. Like a solid win over Ole Miss and a blowout against LSU. They even dropped 48 points on LSU, their most against the rival in 119 years. Now that’s the type of dominance Auburn wishes to regain.

The Tigers started strong but crumbled in SEC play, losing five of six conference games. Offense struggled big time, scoring under 24 points in most SEC matchups. And then the devastating Kentucky loss, despite being the favorites, was the breaking point. So, whether it’s Jon Sumrall, Alex Golesh, or Chad Morris, Auburn football needs to get back on its feet, and that needs to happen soon, especially when Arizona State’s saviour, Kenny Dillingham, shut down all the rumours.

Kenny Dillingham’s love for his roots

Kenny Dillingham is a family man. And he pretty much proved by turning down all the rumours of him taking the Auburn job in a discussion with David Pollack. “Our guys know I’m born and raised here. I’m next to our neighbours. My sister has three kids. My little son, who’s three and a half, hangs out with his cousins every single day. I just love dinner with my parents, who are three doors down from me,” Kenny said to Pollack.

“Our players know the dynamic, and the situation I have here is special. I’ve recruited all these guys here. They know the situation, so some things are better left unsaid.” That’s a straight-up no-nonsense rejection. Kenny Dillingham’s Arizona roots are not going to let him leave that place any time soon. The 35-year-old is living the dream at ASU, having taken the Sun Devils to the College Football Playoff last season and crafting a squad that’s still competitive this year at 6-3.

Before their recent win over Iowa State, Dillingham made it clear to his team he’s in it for the long haul, shutting down speculation he might jump ship. The focus now is locked on finishing the season strong with three wins to keep Big 12 title hopes alive. Plus, the challenge isn’t just on-field. Dillingham has to recruit well, keep stars like Sam Leavitt on board, and eye the transfer portal to stay competitive.