NEW ORLEANS (AP) 鈥� The American Conference championship game between No. 20 North Texas and No. 21 Tulane showcases how recent changes in college football have led to some awkward situations.
Both coaches in Friday night’s game already have taken new jobs elsewhere.
However, they’ve been permitted — — to remain with their 2025 teams to finish out a postseason that could include a College Football Playoff berth for one of them.
Jon Sumrall, who will leave Tulane (10-2, No. 20 CFP) , and Eric Morris, who’ll move on from North Texas (11-1, no. 24 CFP) , are friends. And they’ve chatted while wrestling with their respective career and life decisions.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been able to confide in each other,鈥� Morris said. “Not a ton of people really know what we鈥檙e going through and how hard some of this stuff is.
“Ultimately, I think it’s really cool that we鈥檙e kind of in the same position right now and that we鈥檙e both still able to lead these teams that have fought so hard for us,鈥� Morris added.
While Sumrall was fielding job offers during a climactic, high-stakes final few weeks of the regular season, he also spoke with Kiffin, who ultimately was not permitted by Mississippi to remain with the Rebels beyond last weekend. Ole Miss is a virtual College Football Playoff lock at 11-1, but Kiffin already is at LSU, one of Rebels’ oldest SEC rivals.
While Sumrall and Morris are moving on to richer programs in different conferences, they’re grateful to be able to remain a bit longer with the teams they built this year.
“The opportunity to finish this with our guys was really important,鈥� Sumrall said. “Leaving is hard when you鈥檝e invested in the people and you care so much about the place.”
For Tulane players, entering the postseason without Sumrall was 鈥渘ot an option,鈥� linebacker Sam Howard said.
Sumrall’s hiring by Florida 鈥渋s good for him and his family. So, we understand that as a team, as a mature team,鈥� Howard said. “And we understand also that we still have goals that we have to meet. And he鈥檚 still going to be here with us as our coach … and he鈥檚 going to give us the best chance to win.
鈥淗e loves us. We love him,” Howard added. “And we won鈥檛 have it no other way.鈥�
Title game experience
Tulane is playing in its fourth straight American Conference championship game and hosting it for the third time in that span.
But the Green Wave have lost their past two title games after winning the first at the end of the 2022 season.
Last season, , and left West Point with a 鈥渟ick feeling鈥� that Howard said has motivated the Green Wave ever since.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to be tired of being tired,鈥� Howard said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not good to say, 鈥楬ey, I made it there,鈥� … and you鈥檙e not getting the job done.”
Stylistic differences
Both teams began the season with new quarterbacks because their previous starters transferred.
The similarities largely end there.
Jake Retzlaff is a senior transfer from BYU who set Tulane’s single-season record for TDs rushing by a QB with 14 to go with his 14 scoring passes.
Mean Green QB Drew Mastemaker, a redshirt freshman, has passed for 3,835 yards and 29 TDs.
鈥淲hat makes him the most dangerous is being able to sit back there and read a defense,” Howard said of Mastemaker. 鈥淲hen he鈥檚 back there and he鈥檚 comfortable, he can really rip your defense to shreds.鈥�
Ground gains
Lately, the Mean Green running game has given defenses fits as well.
During its past six games, North Texas has averaged 203.2 yards, led by freshman running back Caleb Hawkins, who has scored 16 touchdowns in the Mean Green鈥檚 past four games.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 been a huge advantage for us,鈥� said Morris, whose scheme evolved from the 鈥淎ir Raid鈥� system he learned as a Texas Tech assistant under the late Mike Leach. “It鈥檚 allowed me as a play-caller to call more runs than I ever have in my career.鈥�
The elements
The Big Easy has been a soggy place during the latter part of this week.
More rain is expected on Friday night at Tulane’s outdoor, on-campus, Yulman Stadium, which opened in 2014, replacing the Superdome as the Green Wave’s home venue.
鈥淚 asked Jon if there鈥檚 any way if we can move this game inside. … I鈥檇 rather throw the football all over the place,” Morris said. 鈥淗e started laughing and said 鈥� I won鈥檛 tell you exactly what he said 鈥� but he said, 鈥楬eck no.鈥欌��
Sumrall was hoping for 鈥渁 monsoon.鈥�
鈥淢ight help us,鈥� Sumrall said. 鈥淭he Green Wave would play better if it鈥檚 wet, I think.鈥�
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AP Sports Writer Stephen Hawkins in Denton, Texas, contributed to this report.
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