Auburn’s new head coach Alex Golesh didn’t hesitate when CBS Sports asked him how long it would take to beat Alabama.
His answer landed with the kind of confidence Tigers fans love, and it also echoed a familiar line from Auburn history. Long before Golesh, legendary Auburn coach Pat Dye gave the same response to a similar question in the 1980s. Dye’s version eventually turned into reality two years later, when he snapped Auburn’s nine-game losing streak against the Crimson Tide.
Golesh is trying to make that kind of statement early in his tenure, and the matchup gives him a real opening. Auburn hasn’t beaten Alabama since 2019, back when Gus Malzahn was still leading the program. Bryan Harsin and Hugh Freeze both took swings at the rivalry game after that, and the 2023 team came especially close.
There are reasons Auburn believes it can make things interesting again this season, even in Tuscaloosa. Alabama’s rushing defense has not been anything to write home about over the past few years under Kalen DeBoer, and Auburn has pieces that could test it. Jeremiah Cobb, Baylor transfer Bryson Washington and USF transfer quarterback Byrum Brown should all get chances to make an impact.
The Tigers may be strongest on the other side of the ball, though. Last year’s team, coached by interim head coach DJ Durkin, held Alabama to 27 points and might have pushed the game to overtime or even stolen it outright if not for a costly Cam Coleman fumble late. It was Coleman’s final catch as a Tiger before he transferred to Texas.
That’s why the answer to whether Auburn has a shot in this year’s Iron Bowl is still yes. Rivalry games like this have a way of ignoring the usual logic, and the Iron Bowl has produced plenty of surprises over the years, including plenty of Auburn wins over better Alabama teams.
Golesh clearly understands what this game means. Auburn even went viral earlier in the summer for dedicating an entire section of practice to the Iron Bowl, and the new coach already has the Pat Dye answer locked in when it comes to Alabama.
Dye still needed two years to end the skid. Golesh will be hoping for a much quicker payoff.
In Other News...
Charles Barkley Keeps Making Auburn Proud On Every Stage
Charles Barkley was back on a familiar summer stage at the 2026 American Century Championship, and the Auburn legend once again gave fans a reason to keep watching. He finished 62nd in the 90-person field, a result that fit the long-running appeal of Barkleys golf appearances: he is still competitive, still entertaining and still drawing attention well beyond the leaderboard.
Barkley also made clear he knows plenty of people had a little extra interest in how he would fare. He said he appreciates those betting on him and believes his game is getting better, while fellow competitor John Smoltz offered a strong endorsement of the progress Barkley has made over the years. For Auburn fans, it is another reminder that Barkley keeps representing the school with the same mix of personality and persistence that has defined him for decades. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Has Another Young Defensive Lineman Fans Will Be Watching Closely
Jourdin Crawford arrived at Auburn with the kind of rsum that makes people notice before he ever takes a college snap. The Birmingham native was a productive high school player and a four-star recruit, and even after a quiet freshman season, the sophomore defensive lineman still stands out because of the size and power he brings to the middle of the defense. Auburn has plenty of interior options to sort through, but Crawford gives the Tigers a different look when he is on the field.
His first year offered only a small glimpse of what he might become, and now the focus shifts to how much more he can handle in 2026. Crawford is aiming for a bigger role alongside the other interior linemen, and he sounds confident that he can help the Tigers in a meaningful way. For a defense always looking for more disruption up front, he is one of those young players worth tracking closely as camp and the season move forward. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Infielder Chris Rembert Just Heard His Name Called Early
Chris Remberts wait ended sooner than plenty of draft followers around Auburn might have expected, as the infielder came off the board early in the 2026 MLB Draft in Philadelphia. For a program that keeps producing pro talent, it was another reminder that Auburn infielders continue to draw attention when the draft room starts moving.
Rembert was taken in the second round at No. 51, a spot that speaks to how strongly he was viewed in the class. The selection also fits into the larger recent history around Auburn draft picks, where the Tigers have continued to stack up names that hear theirs called well before the later rounds. [Read more 🡒]