Auburn Basketball coach Bruce Pearl is reportedly “leaning against” running for Alabama’s U.S. Senate seat in 2026.

Since U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville officially announced his intention to be Alabama’s next governor, there’s been speculation that the Tigers’ head coach would campaign for the open seat.

According to Jewish Insider’s Congressional correspondent Emily Jacobs, Pearl will decide on whether or not to run for the open seat by the end of the month.

“Bruce Pearl, Auburn University’s men’s basketball coach, is leaning against running to replace outgoing Sen. Tommy Tuberville but is giving himself until the end of the month to make a final decision,” Jacobs posted on X Tuesday. “Pearl, who would be the only Jewish Republican in the Senate if elected, spent the summer meeting with Alabama campaign operatives & GOP senators as he considered entering the race. This followed Tuberville’s announcement in late May that he was opting against seeking a second term to run for AL governor.”

Last week during the during the Mike Slive Foundation’s Blue Shoe Ball, Pearl admitted he’s been he’s been thinking about running.

“It’s certainly something that I had considered,” Pearl told reporters during the Mike Slive Foundation’s Blue Shoe Ball. “It’s something I thought a great deal about, but obviously I’m here today and I’m in practice and I’ve got practice tomorrow.”

According to a Cygnal poll on the contest of likely GOP voters released earlier this year, 24% said they would vote for Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall; 12.9% said Pearl, 8.8% said Congressman Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) and 3% said retired Navy Seal Jared Hudson.

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee