NEW ORLEANS (AP) — 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 — unlike fellow coach Lane Kiffin — 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) for Florida, and Eric Morris, who’ll move on from North Texas (11-1, no. 24 CFP) to Oklahoma State, are friends. And they’ve chatted while wrestling with their respective career and life decisions.

“We’ve been able to confide in each other,” Morris said. “Not a ton of people really know what we’re going through and how hard some of this stuff is.

“Ultimately, I think it’s really cool that we’re kind of in the same position right now and that we’re both still able to lead these teams that have fought so hard for us,” 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.