Cover 3 College Football Podcast – Episode Summary

🚨 Coaching Carousel: Lane Kiffin Update | Florida Hires Jon Sumrall | Auburn Hires Alex Golesh

Date: November 30, 2025
Hosts: Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, Bud Elliott
(Danny Kanell absent from this episode)

Episode Overview

This episode delivers instant reactions and in-depth analysis to the rapid college football coaching hires and the ongoing Lane Kiffin saga. The hosts break down the implications of Florida hiring Jon Sumrall (from Tulane), Auburn hiring Alex Golesh (from USF), Arkansas hiring Ryan Silverfield (from Memphis), and the ongoing drama with Lane Kiffin reportedly leaving Ole Miss for LSU. The discussion covers coaching fit, SEC job hierarchies, fanbase reactions, recruiting impacts, staff and player dynamics, and speculation about the evolving SEC coaching landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fast-Moving Coaching Carousel (03:28–09:17)

• Multiple SEC hires out of the American:
  • Florida – Jon Sumrall (Tulane)
  • Auburn – Alex Golesh (USF)
  • Arkansas – Ryan Silverfield (Memphis)
• The American Athletic Conference loses three of its top coaches to the SEC within a single weekend.

Quote (Bud Elliott, 06:19):

"Thumbs up for Auburn and Florida... you got somewhere between very competent to really good head coaches who have proven they can...be good recruiters at the Power 5."

• Arkansas' hire of Silverfield seen as underwhelming; lack of commitment to big-time football spending.

Quote (Tom Fornelli, 07:51):

"If I'm an Arkansas fan, this kind of signifies that we're not all that serious at competing with the big boys when it comes to the money we have to spend in football."

2. Florida Hires Jon Sumrall (09:17–13:09)

• Sumrall viewed as a "no-nonsense" candidate, praised for building tough, successful teams at Troy and being a top recruiter at Kentucky.
• Some Florida fans disappointed—seen as a fallback after missing on Lane Kiffin; concern over hiring another Group of 5 coach.

Quote (Bud Elliott, 10:44):

"I would rather have John Sumrall at what it costs... than to drop $100 million for Lane Kiffin..."

• Emphasis on Sumrall's track record:
  • Built Troy into a winner, even after staff and QB departures
  • Strong defensive background, not reliant on a 'wonder-coordinator' or all-star QB
  • Contrasts sharply with Billy Napier's previous to Florida

Quote (Bud Elliott, 12:54):

"You talk to coaches in the Sun Belt; they thought Billy [Napier] was shitty as a coach... You don't hear the same thing about Sumrall."

3. Auburn's Hire: Alex Golesh (14:15–18:25)

• Auburn pivoted from DJ Durkin to Golesh (likely dependent on Iron Bowl result); Golesh's offensive pedigree praised, especially from his time at Tennessee and USF.
• Palpable relief at not hiring Durkin, who is a polarizing figure.
• Discussion of whether parts of Auburn's defensive staff, including Durkin, would stay.

Quote (Tom Fornelli, 14:59):

"If Auburn had won the Iron Bowl last night, DJ Durkin would be their coach this morning... I think [Golesh] is a much better hire than DJ Durkin would have been."

• Golesh's system (veer-and-shoot, Baylor-Briles tree) is expected to 'hit immediately' with no major learning curve for the offense.

Quote (Bud Elliott, 17:18):

"If you run this veer and shoot stuff, a lot of times there's not much of a break-in period. It's ready day one."

4. Recruiting/Signing Day Outlook (18:25–21:14)

• Both Florida and Auburn have solid 2025 recruiting classes; the transition could keep many commits on board if new coaches act quickly.
• Expectation that each school will retain most of their top recruits.
• Arkansas described as operating in a different recruiting "pool."

Quote (Bud Elliott, 18:53):

"I think Florida is ready to win now... Auburn, I think, actually has a decent class coming in. Florida has a really nice class coming."

5. Lane Kiffin LSU Saga – Staff Ultimatums & Ole Miss Fallout (25:52–30:12)

• Lane Kiffin reportedly telling his offensive staff to be "on the plane to Baton Rouge or lose your job" for LSU.
• Defensive staff (Pete Golding, etc.) staying behind at Ole Miss.
• Major staff schism; Kiffin's handling causing turmoil at Ole Miss.

Quote (Tom Fornelli, 26:47):

"The man who can't make a damn decision and has to keep pushing the deadline back... is now telling his staff that they have until this time to make a decision or else they're not getting the job."

• Question about what happens to Ole Miss' players; the portal situation; sense that Kiffin holds leverage over staff, but not players.

Quote (Bud Elliott, 29:05):

"He has leverage on the staff. He doesn't really have leverage on the players."

• Hosts express visible frustration with the syndicate-like leverage exercised by agents and coaches in these situations.
• Discussion about agency power balance – Jimmy Sexton vs. new rising agent Clint.

6. SEC Job Hierarchy & Ole Miss’ Next Steps (33:26–42:38)

• LSU spotlight much more intense than at Ole Miss; Kiffin seeking higher platform and greater opportunity for championships.
• Florida and Auburn jobs judged slightly higher than Ole Miss, but margins are slim.
• Auburn offers greater geographic recruiting advantages, but Ole Miss has better 'alignment' and recent playoff bids.

Quote (Bud Elliott, 40:19):

"I'd rather have Auburn than Ole Miss, but I don't think they are drastically different jobs."

• Ole Miss considered a top-20 job nationally; hosts guess internal candidate Pete Golding (DC) will become interim and possibly head coach.

Quote (Tom Fornelli, 42:18):

"The emotions of the situation lead me to think Pete Golding is going to be the next head coach at Ole Miss."

• Quick rundown of potential Ole Miss candidates (43:22–45:31):
  • Pete Golding (internal)
  • Brent Key (Georgia Tech)
  • DJ Durkin + OC Buster (hypothetical)
  • Blake Baker (LSU DC)
  • Will Stein (Oregon OC)
  • Manny Diaz (Penn State DC)

7. The ‘New Normal’ in Coaching Drama (35:30–38:41)

• Coaching searches have grown more chaotic and public, driven by social media, NIL money, and player empowerment.
• Ole Miss' advances in NIL/portal strategy have leveled off as others catch up; “first-mover” advantage drying up.
• Coaches look for “alignment” and resources, as every big school now has money.

8. Inside the Ole Miss Crisis (46:02–49:15)

• Reports from inside the program:
  • Leadership council trying (and failing) to reach Kiffin as staff and players demand answers.
  • Staff and player mutiny brewing, possible scenario where offensive staff leaves pre-playoff.
• Lane widely seen as having "torpedoed" Ole Miss' playoff chances and soured his own legacy.

Quote (Bud Elliott, 46:59):

"Their two choices right now are awful. Let the offensive staff leave and torpedo the Playoff chances, or let the LSU coach work in your building for up to 50 days."

Quote (Tom Fornelli, 49:15):

"Mr. Not Big on Ultimatums is giving ultimatums."

Notable, Memorable Moments

• Bud Elliott's SEC Reality Check:
  "Somebody in the SEC has to lose ballgames. Arkansas fans would be happier if they were back in the Big 12…" (08:53)

• Kiffin Critique:
  "We laughed at the idea that Ole Miss was going to give [Kiffin] an ultimatum before the Egg Bowl. He's gonna want his 24, 72 hours of the whole sport focusing on Lane." – Bud Elliott (32:43)

• Coaching Search Humor:
  "Illinois was the best MAC team in the Big Ten during the Tim Beckman era." – Tom Fornelli (17:56)

• On the SEC's changing power brokers:
  "It's Clint, who was Sexton's number two and is seen as the guy who will eventually become the next Sexton." – Bud Elliott (22:12)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:28] – Coaching Carousel starts: new Florida, Auburn, Arkansas hires
• [09:17] – Florida fan reaction to hiring Sumrall
• [14:15] – Golesh's hire and Iron Bowl's impact on Auburn's decision
• [18:25] – Immediate recruiting impacts at Florida, Auburn, Arkansas
• [25:52] – Latest Lane Kiffin staff ultimatum updates
• [33:26] – Comparing job desirability (Florida, Auburn, Ole Miss)
• [41:20] – Could Ole Miss elevate Pete Golding as head coach?
• [46:02] – Inside Ole Miss: staff/leadership mutiny, Lane unreachable
• [49:15] – Summary and next steps, including Kiffin’s impending LSU intro presser

Tone & Final Thoughts

The episode is marked by a blend of sarcasm, exasperation, and wry observation. The hosts pull no punches criticizing administrative mishaps, coaching egos, and agent power. Yet, the underlying mood is one of awe at the sheer volatility and entertainment value the modern coaching carousel brings. The College Football Playoff’s expansion, NIL, and the transfer portal create an environment where job security means less, and offseason drama never ends.

Standout Final Quote (Tom Fornelli, 49:59):

"You think you understand how this business works, but you don’t."

For full context and detail on any individual coaching move, drama, or rumor mill, listeners are encouraged to subscribe and catch up on the latest episodes at their convenience.