Another SEC coach out

Auburn University has fired head football coach Hugh Freeze after a 10-3 loss to Kentucky at home Saturday.

Below is the formal announcement from the university:

AUBURN, Ala.— Auburn Athletics Director John Cohen announced on Sunday a change in leadership for the Auburn Football program. D.J. Durkin will serve as interim head coach. (NOTE: Durkin served as co-defensive coordinator at Ole Miss under head coach Lane Kiffin for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.)

Statement from Auburn Athletic Director John Cohen

“I have informed Coach Freeze of my decision to make a change in leadership with the Auburn Football program. Coach Freeze is a man of integrity, and we are appreciative of his investment in Auburn and his relentless work over the last three years in bolstering our roster. Our expectations for Auburn Football are to annually compete for championships and the search for the next leader of Auburn Football begins immediately.”

Freeze later released a statement on X:

Freeze returned to the SEC five years after his 2017 resignation from Ole Miss, which was triggered by the revelation of a phone call made on his university phone to a number connected to an escort service.

He left Oxford with a 39-25 record that included a top 10 finish to the 2015 season with a Sugar Bowl victory. NCAA violations led to 27 of those wins being vacated.

Following four successful seasons at Liberty, Freeze arrived at Auburn with expectations he would return the Tigers to their winning ways.

However, his teams never finished above .500 in his three seasons on the Plains. His overall record coaching the Tigers is 15-19.

With Freeze’s firing, the Southeastern Conference now has four open football coaching jobs: Arkansas, Auburn, Florida and LSU.

Kiffin to the NFL?

"You know what Miami's gotta do next? Go hire Lane Kiffin!"@colincowherd thinks the Dolphins rebuild needs to start with hiring Kiffin away from Ole Miss pic.twitter.com/gjGR18UnQS
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) October 31, 2025

Sports host Colin Cowherd on Friday pitched the idea of Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin leaving college football for a return to the NFL by taking the head coaching job with the Miami Dolphins.

At the moment, Mike McDaniel is still the head coach. General manager Chris Grier and the Dolphins parted ways Friday.

Kiffin coached the Oakland Raiders in 2007 and finished with a 4-12 record. He was 1-3 in 2008 when owner Al Davis fired him.

Marvel meets the Dukes

The James Madison Dukes are doing something special for one of their upcoming home football games. From the university:

As part of the first-ever collegiate Marvel Super Hero Day on November 22, James Madison football will make sure it looks the part, donning super hero-themed helmets as it takes on Washington State.

With one side of the helmet still sporting the traditional JMU block logo, players will choose one of five Marvel heroes – Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor or Black Panther – to adorn the other side of their helmet as they take on the Cougars at Bridgeforth.

In addition to the action-themed decals on the field, JMU nation will have plenty of opportunities to join in the Marvel fun:

The first 15,000 fans in attendance will receive a voucher for a unique souvenir poster designed by Marvel Comics, featuring Duke Dog alongside the popular heroes
Select fans will receive one of 2,000 co-branded hats as a game day giveaway
Several more exciting Marvel activations and contests will be announced over the next month

Fans are also encouraged to join in the fun and dress up as their favorite Marvel super hero to cheer on the Dukes.

Another SEC football coach fired

LSU has fired football coach Brian Kelly becoming the third SEC school to get rid of its head coach this season with Arkansas and Florida already making the same move.

Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports reports Kelly addressed his team Sunday night following his dismissal, which came one night after the Tigers were blown out by Texas A&M 49-25 dropping the team to 5-3 this season. One of those losses happened in Oxford when Ole Miss defeated LSU 24-19.

Kelly came to LSU from Notre Dame in 2021 and produced a 34-14 record in his four seasons in Baton Rouge. However, his teams never made the College Football Playoff, and there were expectations this would be the season the Bayou Bengals would finally reach the CFP.

LSU started the season 9th in the AP Top 25 college football rankings. The Tigers fell out of the poll with Saturday’s loss.

Bruce Feldman and Ralph D. Russo of The Athletic report Kelly and athletics director Scott Woodward had a disagreement earlier in the day over proposed changes to the coaching staff.

The university says terms of the separation are being negotiated. It’s reported Kelly’s buyout is in the neighborhood of $53 million.

Associate head coach Frank Wilson will coach the team the remainder of this season.

LSU has a bye next Saturday before facing Alabama the following week.

Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde with the big picture look at college football following Brian Kelly’s firing (and it includes Lane Kiffin)

Moves made to make MSU football games safer

Mississippi State University says it’s boosting security efforts at home football games, starting with Saturday’s homecoming game against Texas.

Those efforts include adding more surveillance cameras and increasing the presence of security.

University officials also want people who suspect something is going on that could be a problem to call 911 or call or text (662) 325-2121.

They also ask people coming to the game to carry a valid photo ID and cooperate with those handling security.

Thursday’s announcement follows shootings this month during or after homecoming football games in Mississippi.

A mass shooting after Leland High School’s football game killed seven. Three died in a shooting at Heidelberg High School.

One died in a shooting at Alcorn State University about an hour after the school’s game. No one was killed in the shooting outside Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in the tailgate section of Jackson State’s game.

A violent night

Mississippi experiences a violent Friday night with six dead following a mass shooting in Leland after the high school homecoming game. Heidelberg High School’s homecoming was marred by an on campus shooting that left two dead, including an expectant mother. And law enforcement in Sharkey County had to deal with a shooting outside of the South Delta football game in Anguilla.

Football start set for State-Southern

Mike Leach to become HOF eligible

The National Football Foundation makes a slight change that clears the way for the late Mississippi State football coach to receive an honor that some have campaigned for following his death.

IRVING, Texas (May 29, 2025) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) today announced an adjustment to the eligibility criteria for coaches to be considered for induction into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame.

In consultation with the American Football Coaches Association, the NFF Honors Court, and the NFF Awards Committee, the Foundation has revised the minimum career winning percentage required for coaching eligibility from .600 to .595. This change will go into effect beginning with the 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Ballot.

All other eligibility requirements for coaches remain unchanged. To be considered for the NFF College Football Hall of Fame, coaches must have served as a head coach for a minimum of 10 seasons and must have coached at least 100 games. Coaches become eligible for consideration three full seasons after retirement or immediately following retirement if they are at least 70 years of age. Active coaches become eligible upon reaching the age of 75.

“The NFF is committed to preserving the integrity and prestige of the NFF College Football Hall of Fame,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “This adjustment reflects thoughtful dialogue with leaders across the sport and allows us to better recognize coaches whose contributions to the game extend beyond a narrow statistical threshold.”

For more information about the NFF College Football Hall of Fame criteria or to view past inductees, please click here or visit footballfoundation.org.