His Aggies were undefeated, hosting Alabama in one of the biggest games of the week and looking every bit like division and national title contenders.
Then, quarterback Kyle Allen seemingly forgot how to play football, the running game fell to pieces and his Aggies lost to the Crimson Tide before getting run over, 23-3, Saturday night by a beat-up Ole Miss team in Oxford.
It wasn't as close as the score indicated.
Now, Sumlin's career and program are at a crossroads.
For his program, it's a matter of identity.