SEC head coach expects Gus Malzahn's retirement to be short lived

Missouri head coach Eliah Drinkwitz spoke on former Auburn football head coach Gus Malzahn being a part of the College Football Playoff Committee at SEC Media Days in Tampa, Florida.

On Monday, day one of the 2026 SEC Media Days, Eliah Drinkwitz was asked about Gus Malzahn joining the College Football Playoff Committee.

"It will only drive him back into coaching, because as he evaluates all these teams he's going to think 'man I got to get one more shot at it'...I'm starting coach Malzahn's campaign to be hired next year," Drinkwitz said. "He'll do a great job."

Drinkwitz served as the Tigers' quarterbacks coach from 2010-2011, while Malzahn was the offensive coordinator on the Plains. Now Drinkwitz is entering his seventh year as a head coach in the SEC, coaching Missouri.

Malzahn, who is turning 61 this year, announced in February that he would be retiring from coaching after serving as the offensive coordinator at Florida State last season. His last head coaching stint was at Central Florida from 2021-2024. Overall in his career, he is 105-62 as a head coach.

It would just be over a month later that Malzahn would be joining the College Football Playoff Committee on March 30. A new chapter is being written for the former Tigers coach, just as the game of college football has evolved; so has his career.

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This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: SEC head coach expects Gus Malzahn's retirement to be short lived