The final month of the college football season started on this weekend, and as such, there is plenty happening around the sport both on and off the field. Florida is already looking for a new head coach after firing Jim McElwain, and there are plenty of rumors to sort through regarding who they want to replace him. There are also major coaching questions about the future of coaches at Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss. So, without further ado, here are the biggest stories you need to know from around the college football world:
Texas A&M preparing to fire Kevin Sumlin
Following a loss to Auburn on Saturday that dropped Texas A&M to 5-4 after a 4-1 start, head coach Kevin Sumlin has returned to the hot seat - and won't be in College Station much longer. According to TheFootballScoop.com, the Aggies are preparing to fire him at the end of the season.
With yesterday’s 42-27 loss vs Auburn, Texas A&M dropped to 5-4 on the season. A&M now hasn’t beaten an SEC West opponent at home in 763 days. Change is coming; but a source tells FootballScoop not to look for A&M to make a move before the end of the season unless something unforeseen were to occur. A&M finishes with New Mexico, then at Ole Miss and at LSU.
Sumlin posted an 11-2 record in his first year with the Aggies, but they haven't approached that level again, posting one nine-win season and three eight-win marks since. In total, Sumlin is 49-24 at Texas A&M, but only 24-22 in SEC play.
Butch Jones could keep job at Tennessee
It has been a foregone conclusion that Tennessee would fire Butch Jones at the end of the season, but that may not be the case. According to SB Nation's Steven Godfrey, Jones may be able to keep his job if he meets certain criteria.
With Week 10’s win over Southern Miss, Butch Jones’ job security is technically alive, albeit on life support. The message inside the program is that UT needs to win out and keep its recruiting class intact through December’s early signing period.
The Vols close their season with games against Missouri, LSU, and Vanderbilt. Winning all of them would push Tennessee to 7-5 on the season and 3-5 in conference play.
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Ole Miss head coaching candidates
The Rebels have been without a permanent head coach since Huge Freeze resigned amidst scandal before the start of the season, and there are a number of candidates the school is targeting for the job, Godfrey reports.
Ole Miss has been vetting a long list of candidates in recent weeks, namely USF head coach Charlie Strong, Memphis head coach Mike Norvell, and UTSA head coach Frank Wilson. Athletic director Ross Bjork is hoping to make a hire quietly and to have a replacement for Hugh Freeze and interim head coach Matt Luke in place immediately following the Egg Bowl.
A separate faction of Ole Miss boosters has pushed for SMU head coach Chad Morris and Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt. Despite the variety of suggestions, multiple sources indicate it’s Bjork’s call.
Ole Miss is currently 4-5 on the season under Luke, who is not considered a candidate to keep the job long-term. He has been on Ole Miss' staff since 2012 and could be retained by whoever takes over.
New Heisman favorite in Vegas
Penn State running back Saquon Barkley had been the heavy favorite to win the Heisman trophy throughout much of the season, but after PSU's second straight loss and a sub-par performance from Barkley, Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield is now the favorite to win the award in Vegas.
Latest Heisman odds from @Bovada:
— Kevin McGuire (@KevinOnCFB) November 6, 2017
Mayfield -175
Barkley +150
Adams +800
Love +1000
Rudolph +2800
Barrett +3300
Jackson +4000
Mayfield threw for 598 yards, five touchdowns, two interceptions and even rushed for a touchdown in their win over Oklahoma State. He has now passed for 3,226 yards with 28 touchdowns and five interceptions while rushing for 181 yards and five more scores while leading the Sooners to an 8-1 record.
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