New Coaches New Rivalry SEC Kickoff | Birmingham News

Auburn and Florida collide in their SEC opener this Saturday, pitting first-year head coaches Alex Golesh and Jon Sumrall against each other in a high-stakes showdown. Sumrall, who grew up in Alabama and has ties to Auburn through his wife, insists he’s fully focused on Florida — even if everyone close to him is pulling for the Gators. Golesh, meanwhile, respects Sumrall but puts their friendship on hold for game week, recalling their only prior meeting — a Tulane win over South Florida in 2024. Both teams enter with perfect 2-0 records, and the battle kicks off at 6 PM CT at Jordan-Hare Stadium on ESPN. It’s personal, it’s historic, and it’s all about winning. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2026/09/auburn-coach-alex-golesh-had-the-perfect-comeback-when-asked-if-hes-friends-with-jon-sumrall.html More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/386b01f52e50d536 Report issues to [email protected].