The Tulane Green Wave won the American Conference Championship and solidified itself as one of the top-ranked conference champions this season. Tulane's efforts earned it the No. 11 seed in the CFP.
Head coach Jon Sumrall was expected to be a sought-after coaching candidate, and a Power 4 program indeed poached him. After the conclusion of Tulane's season, Sumrall accepted the job to become the head coach of the Florida Gators.
Head coaches remaining at their soon-to-be former school have been a talking point this coaching cycle due to Lane Kiffin. Kiffin left Ole Miss for rival LSU, but the Rebels decided not to permit him to coach Ole Miss through the CFP.
Here is more on whether Sumrall will be coaching Tulane through the 2025 College Football Playoff.
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Is Jon Sumrall coaching Tulane in College Football Playoff?
Yes. Despite Sumrall agreeing to become the next head coach at Florida, Tulane and Florida allowed Sumrall to coach the Green Wave through the CFP.
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Jon Sumrall contract with Florida
Sumrall signed a six-year, $44.7 million deal to become the Gators head coach. The contract being for six years is interesting because the last Florida head coach who was still with the team through six seasons was Urban Meyer who coached the school from 2005-2010 and won two national championships.
Even though Sumrall is leaving Tulane, he made an effort to leave it better than he found it. The head coach has not only helped put the Green Wave on the national college football landscape, but he made a donation to Tulane's NIL fund after accepting the Florida job.
Sumrall reportedly donated $100,000 to the Green Wave Talent Fund to help new head coach Will Hall in his recruiting efforts. In response, Tulane said in a press release, "The leadership and generosity will have a direct and lasting impact on our student-athletes as we continue to grow and elevate Tulane Athletics. This gift will directly strengthen Tulane's ability to recruit, retain and develop championship-caliber student-athletes."
About the donation, Sumrall said, "Tulane University and New Orleans are special to me and my family. Ginny [Sumrall's wife] and I are honored to support the Green Wave Talent Fund because we believe in the vision of Tulane Athletics and want to contribute to the continued success of its student-athletes. The future is incredibly bright, and we are excited for Will Hall and his family to be part of it."
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When did Florida hire Jon Sumrall?
The official announcement of Sumrall becoming the new head coach for Florida came on Nov. 30, 2025. He had his introductory press conference the next day.
Welcome home, Coach.
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) November 30, 2025
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