Blog Article

Tulane Just Made The College Football Playoff. Then They Hired A Coach Who Went 14-30 And Was Fired Mid-Season.

Mark Haines on December 11, 2025

Is This a Good Hire?

The Short Answer: No.

Tulane just went from one of the best Group of Five coaching situations in America to hiring a coach who was fired mid-season after going 14-30 at Southern Miss.

Let that sink in.

The Numbers Tell the Story

Will Hall’s FBS head coaching record is brutal:

Southern Miss (2021-2024)

Overall: 14-30 (.318)
Home: 8-19 (.296)
Away: 5-16 (.238)
vs. Ranked Opponents: 0-4 (.000)
Late Season: 5-9 (.357)

The only bright spot? A 7-6 season in 2022 that included a LendingTree Bowl win. Everything else was a disaster. Hall was fired seven games into 2024 after a 1-6 start.

Now compare that to Jon Sumrall’s career:

Sumrall Career Record: 32-10 (.762)

At Tulane: 9-5 (.643)
Home: 17-5 (.773)
Away: 14-3 (.824)
Late Season: 11-4 (.733)

The drop-off isn’t subtle. It’s a cliff.

The “Continuity” Argument

Here’s what Tulane is selling:

Hall knows the building. He was the offensive coordinator under Willie Fritz in 2019 when Tulane set multiple school records. He’s back on staff as pass-game coordinator. He won’t bolt after one good season. He’ll keep the system running.

There’s some logic here.

Back-to-back coaching departures (Fritz to Georgia Tech, now Sumrall to Florida) have created genuine instability. An internal hire preserves scheme, culture, and recruiting relationships during a CFP run. Hall genuinely does have Tulane ties and likely is less likely to leave than a hot external name.

But here’s the problem:

Being loyal and being good aren’t the same thing.

What the Record Shows

Hall’s 2019 Tulane offense was legitimately excellent, top-25 nationally in rushing and total offense, school records falling left and right. He can clearly call plays and develop quarterbacks at the coordinator level.

But FBS head coaching is a different job entirely.

At Southern Miss, Hall couldn’t:

Win on the road (5-16)
Compete against ranked teams (0-4)
Close out seasons (5-9 late)
Build any sustainable momentum after 2022

The one outlier season (7-6) looks more like a blip than proof of concept. The year before was 3-9. The year after was 3-9. Then 1-6 before the firing.

Fan Sentiment Is Brutal

This isn’t a case where analytics nerds are upset, but the fanbase is excited.

The Tulane fanbase is angry.

The dominant reaction across social media, message boards, and podcasts is “deflated and confused.” National observers are calling it “the worst hire of the cycle.” Fans are openly questioning whether AD David Harris made a cheap, small-time decision at the exact moment Tulane finally had leverage.

The optics are terrible:

AAC champions
First-ever CFP berth
Program at an all-time high
Hire a guy who was fired mid-season with a .318 winning percentage

That’s not how you capitalize on momentum.

The Process Grade

Here’s how this breaks down for Coaches Hot Seat purposes:

Category	Grade	Explanation
Résumé	D	14-30 at Southern Miss, fired mid-season. The FBS head coaching track record is disqualifying.
Fit	B+	Knows Tulane, knows the system, knows the city. Won’t leave. The continuity case is coherent.
Process	C	Internal hire looks budget-conscious, not ambitious. Fanbase is booing on Day 1.
Ceiling	TBD	Has never proven he can sustain success at FBS level. Coordinator success doesn’t guarantee HC success.

Overall: C-

The Bottom Line

Tulane made a continuity bet that looks dramatically misaligned with where the program actually is.

This is a school that just made the College Football Playoff. That’s a program with real leverage—the ability to attract a rising coordinator from a Power Four school, a hot Group of Five name, someone with actual FBS head coaching wins.

Instead, they promoted a coach with a .318 FBS head-coaching record who was literally unemployed two months ago after Southern Miss fired him.

The fit case is coherent. The résumé case is mind-boggling.

Tulane’s AD spent a considerable chunk of goodwill to hire a coach his own fans are booing on Day 1. That’s not how you build on historic success. That’s how you risk giving it all back.

Hall’s Pressure Status

Starting Pressure Level: HIGH

He inherits a CFP roster but enters with:

Zero credibility cushion from his FBS head coaching record
A skeptical-to-hostile fanbase
Immediate expectations to maintain what Sumrall built
Questions about whether he can close games, win on the road, or beat good teams

Year 1 needs to be 8+ wins minimum to quiet the noise. Anything less, and the “we told you so” chorus will be deafening.

The margin for error here is essentially zero.

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Blog Article

Tulane Football in 2025: Fighting a $15 Million Gunfight with a $2 Million Knife

Mark Haines on April 2, 2025

Tulane football, the AAC Championship runner-up, just lost its star quarterback to an $8 million NIL deal.

This is the new reality for Tulane and head coach Jon Sumrall as they enter the 2025 season: competing against programs with financial resources far exceeding their own. Despite reaching the AAC Championship in Sumrall’s first season, the Green Wave now find themselves in a challenging position, rebuilding after watching their top performers get poached by larger programs with deeper NIL pockets.

“When you have a — call it a couple-million dollar roster versus a $15 million dollar roster you’re going sometimes into a gun fight with a knife,” Sumrall bluntly stated at the New Orleans Book Festival, as John Brice of Football Scoop reported.

But Sumrall isn’t backing down.

The Mass Exodus: How Much Talent Did Tulane Lose?

Quarterback Darian Mensah led the AAC in completion percentage and transferred to Duke for a reported $8 million NIL deal.

That’s just the beginning of Tulane’s exodus:

QB Darian Mensah: Left for Duke after throwing for 2,723 yards and 22 TDs with a 65.9% completion rate
RB Makhi Hughes: Hughes departed for Oregon after being the team’s workhorse in 2024
WR Room: All three top receivers – Mario Williams, Dontae Fleming, and Yulkeith Brown – transferred out
TE Alex Bauman: Moved to Miami, removing another key receiving option
Additional Losses: RBs Shaadie Clayton-Johnson (North Texas) and Trey Cornist (Central Michigan)
Defense: DL Parker Petersen transferred to Wisconsin

These weren’t just role players—they were the core of an offense that averaged 405 yards per game and was remarkable for its efficiency (62.9% completion rate) and discipline (just 1.1 turnovers per game).

How do you replace that much production in one off-season?

Sumrall’s Portal Strategy: 23 New Transfers to the Rescue

“We’re going to find every way we can to be successful and win,” Sumrall insists. “I’m biased and I may have blinders on and so I’m going to compete to win against whoever we play. Anyone, anywhere, anytime.”

His actions back up those words, with Tulane bringing in 23 transfers to rebuild the roster:

T.J. Finley (QB): A 6’7″ pocket passer with experience at LSU, Auburn, Texas State, and Western Kentucky
Maurice Turner (RB): Louisville transfer stepping into a depleted backfield
Jimmy Calloway (WR): Another Louisville transfer tasked with rebuilding the receiving corps
Defensive Line Reinforcements: Eliyt Nairne (Liberty), Trevon Alpine (Texas Tech), and Derrick Sheppard (UAB)
Jordan Hall (OL): Liberty transfer brought in to strengthen the offensive line

While the offense undergoes a complete rebuild, the defensive front seven might be stronger than last year’s unit that allowed 145.8 rushing yards per game.

But will it be enough?

Position-by-Position: Where Tulane Stands in 2025

Quarterbacks: The Veteran Journeyman

T.J. Finley brings much-needed experience, but can the traditional pocket passer replicate Mensah’s dual-threat efficiency?

The transition from Mensah to Finley represents a complete style change:

Mensah was mobile and efficient (166.7 passer rating)
Finley is a prototypical pocket passer with a big arm
Early-season growing pains seem inevitable
The ceiling remains high if chemistry develops with new receivers

Verdict: 🟡 Different style, similar potential production with patience

Running Backs: Starting From Scratch

The backfield faces the steepest rebuild on the entire roster.

Maurice Turner arrives from Louisville to a room that’s lost virtually all of its production:

Hughes has gone to Oregon
Clayton-Johnson transferred to North Texas
Cornist moved to Central Michigan
A committee approach seems likely in 2025
Early-season production could be inconsistent

Verdict: 🔴 Complete rebuild required

Wide Receivers: Who Steps Up?

Jimmy Calloway and other portal additions face enormous pressure with all top contributors gone.

The receiver reset is total:

All three top producers from 2024 transferred out
Chemistry with Finley must develop quickly
Unproven players will need to step into major roles
Expect new offensive wrinkles to help ease the transition

Verdict: 🔴 Major question marks remain

Defensive Line: The Bright Spot

This unit might be stronger in 2025 than it was in 2024.

The additions through the portal should create a more disruptive front:

Nairne, Alpine, and Sheppard bring experience and size
The 2024 unit was solid but unspectacular (145.8 rush yards/game)
Increased pressure could help the entire defense
Potential to be the team’s strength in 2025

Verdict: 🟢 Potential to be the team’s strength

Linebackers and Secondary: Stability Matters

These units remain relatively intact from the 2024 squad.

The defensive back seven provides needed continuity:

Minimal losses to the transfer portal
The secondary allowed 177.7 passing yards per game in 2024
More pressure up front could create more turnover opportunities
Likely to carry the team early while the offense develops

Verdict: 🟡 Solid but not spectacular

The 2025 Schedule: Opportunity and Challenge

Tulane’s path through 2025 includes fascinating storylines and significant tests.

Non-Conference Headliners:

Aug. 30: Northwestern (Home)
Sept. 13: Duke (Home) – Mensah returns to New Orleans
Sept. 20: Ole Miss (Away) – Major SEC challenge

Critical Conference Games:

Oct. 18: Army (Home) – 2024 AAC Championship rematch
Oct. 30: UTSA (Away) – Thursday night vs. rising conference power
Nov. 7: Memphis (Away) – Always a challenging road environment

Two strategically placed bye weeks (Oct. 4 and Oct. 25) should help the coaching staff make necessary adjustments throughout the season.

Can Tulane Find Sumrall’s “Secret Sauce”?

“Can you be the best in your league and find that secret sauce at the end where there’s chemistry and cohesion and culture that maybe beats somebody that may have a touch more talent than you?” Sumrall asked at the New Orleans Book Festival.

This question cuts to the heart of Tulane’s 2025 season.

Despite the coaching stability (Sumrall extended his contract in December 2024 despite Power 4 interest), the roster turnover creates enormous uncertainty. Integration of 23 new transfers tests even the best coaching staff.

The “secret sauce” of chemistry, cohesion, and culture faces its ultimate test.

Realistic Expectations: What Success Looks Like in 2025

With massive roster turnover and a challenging schedule, Tulane fans should recalibrate expectations.

Here’s what to watch for:

Early Growing Pains: September could be rough as the offense develops chemistry
Defensive Emergence: The defense may need to carry the team early
Midseason Improvement: If Finley settles in, the team could hit stride by mid-October
Bowl Eligibility: Securing six wins would represent success in this transition year
Conference Contention: Returning to the AAC Championship would be an impressive achievement

The Existential Question: Is Cinderella Dead in the NIL Era?

“Is it dead? I don’t know about that, yet. But, it’s challenging,” Sumrall said when asked if the Cinderella story is still possible in modern college football.

This is the existential question facing programs like Tulane’s.

How do you build sustainable success when your best players become immediate targets for financial packages you can’t match? When Sumrall says, “they’re able to just steal players from you left and right,” he’s describing a fundamental challenge to programs outside the Power 4 conferences.

Tulane’s 2025 season isn’t just about wins and losses—it’s about proving that a sustainable model exists for programs with limited resources in the NIL era.

Suppose Sumrall can develop undervalued players, effectively use the transfer portal, and build a strong culture to retain at least some key contributors. In that case, the Green Wave might establish a blueprint for similar programs.

For 2025, temper your expectations on the field.

But watch closely for signs that Sumrall is building something that can withstand the annual talent exodus that programs like Tulane now face in modern college football.

After all, he’s attempting something extraordinary: bringing a knife to a gunfight – and trying to win anyway.

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