North Texas and Tulane are both losing their coaches.
But before they leave Eric Morris will coach the No. 24 Mean Green (11-1, 7-1) and Jon Sumrall will coach the No. 20 Green Wave (10-2, 7-1) in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game on Friday night in New Orleans.
And the winner’s tenure could continue into the College Football Playoff. If Tulane wins it will almost certainly get the Group of 5 bid to the CFP while Florida awaits Sumrall’s full-time arrival.
If North Texas wins it could get the Group of 5 bid depending on the outcome of the Sun Belt Championship Game between No. 25 James Madison and Troy. Either way Morris’ full-time arrival at Oklahoma State will wait for the conclusion of the Mean Green’s season.
“Ultimately I think it’s really cool that we’re in the same position right now,” Morris said, “and that we’re both still able to lead these teams that have fought so hard for us.”
Morris and Sumrall are friends and both said they have spoken in recent weeks about the challenge of listening to schools interested in hiring them without allowing the potential distraction to derail their teams’ drive to the title game.
“I asked our players, ‘are ya’ll good with me coaching this game,'” Sumrall said. “They were like, ‘Heck yeah, Coach. We’ve been there together this whole process.’ I’m committed to our team. Our team’s committed to playing this game the right way.”
Morris said “it’s not ideal” to try and finish one job while beginning another, but added “I haven’t missed a beat in preparing this team.”
This is the fourth straight season that the Green Wave have played for the American title, the first two under Willie Fritz before he went to Houston and the last two under Sumrall after he arrived from Troy.
“For our university to be doing it four years in a row is amazing,” Sumrall said. “To get an opportunity to do it any year is special.”
The forecast for Friday night in New Orleans, where Tulane is 6-0 this season, includes the potential for heavy rain. Sumrall said he kind of hopes the rain gets really heavy and slows down the Mean Green’s explosive passing game.
Morris joked that he asked Sumrall if the game could be moved indoors in order to avoid a slow track.
North Texas, which has scored 50 or more points eight times this season, is seeking its first 12-win season ever in Morris’ third and final season.
The Mean Green’s offense has gotten more balanced as the season has gone along. Freshman running back Caleb Hawkins leads the FBS with 23 rushing touchdowns and has four games with four rushing scores.
“I think our offense is really built that we’re going to take what the defense gives us,” said Morris, who calls the team’s offensive plays. “Us being able to run the football at such an efficient rate, I think it’s really become pick your poison.”
Redshirt quarterback Drew Mestemaker set an American freshman record with 3,835 passing yards this season.
BYU transfer Jake Retzlaff set a Tulane record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 14.
