Auburn's Bruce Pearl pumps brakes on US Senate rumors

Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville details his run for Alabama governor and his remaining tenure in Congress on ‘The Will Cain Show.’

Bruce Pearl’s name was floated as a possible candidate to replace Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., in his U.S. Senate seat as the lawmaker announced his intention to run for Alabama governor.

The Auburn Tigers men’s basketball head coach even received the support of Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, despite Pearl’s fervent support for President Donald Trump.

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Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl reacts after a missed free throw during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center in Lexington, Kentucky, on March 1, 2025. (Jordan Prather-Imagn Images)

Pearl addressed the possibility on the "Scott Jennings Show," wondering whether he could make as big of an impact on the world as the head coach at Auburn.

"Can I also have an impact as a basketball coach?" Pearl said. "I’m graduating kids. I’m teaching kids. … I don’t know that I have to be a Senator in order (make an impact), there are so many things about Washington that are so dysfunctional that I don’t even know that I could make a difference there."

Auburn Athletic Director John Cohen told AL.com that he expected Pearl to be the head coach of the team for the 2025-26 season.

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Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl celebrates the win after the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Neville Arena in Auburn, Alabama, on Feb. 22, 2025. (John Reed-Imagn Images)

"I absolutely expect him to be the head coach at Auburn," Cohen said. "But I, I also expect all the policies of NIL Go and,