Aubie the Tiger is adding another line to an already crowded resume, and this one comes with a cause attached.
Auburn’s longtime mascot has joined Friskies’ Certified Frisky program, a new NIL deal that will turn the Auburn football team’s first score in every regular-season game into a 10,000-meal donation to Greater Good Charities. Aubie is now part of a group that also includes BYU, Missouri, Arizona, and Villanova mascots in support of the feline-focused effort.
“Every great program starts with great recruits, and we couldn't be more excited to sign some of college sports' most recognizable feline talent. These cats already know how to steal the spotlight and rally their fans, and that's exactly why we wanted them on the Certified Frisky roster. Together, we're turning game day excitement into something bigger by helping cats in need,” Friskies Brand Director Jason Dolan said.
The deal adds another spotlight moment for a mascot that has spent decades becoming one of the most recognizable figures in college sports. Per USA Today Sports’ Readers’ Choice Awards, “Each year, Aubie makes more than 1,000 appearances on campus and across the country, bringing smiles to fans of all ages. Aubie the Tiger is often imitated but never duplicated.”
Aubie was voted the top mascot in 2026, and the honor only adds to a trophy case that already stands out. The tiger has won 11 Universal Cheerleaders Association national championships, most recently in 2024.
Aubie’s run on the sidelines stretches back 47 years, dating to the 1979 SEC Basketball Tournament. The mascot also claimed UCA titles in 1991, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2021.
And Aubie’s reach goes beyond the suit itself. Ella Coons, Auburn’s director of scheduling for Aubie, once told the Auburn Plainsman that Aubie is more than just the person behind the mask, noting there’s an entire Aubie Committee involved in creating the mascot’s famous props. Coons has also said Aubie makes appearances all over the world every year.
In Other News...
Auburns Biggest Defensive Problem Could Get Exposed Against Tennessee
Missed tackles have been a recurring issue for Auburn this season, and the numbers from the Florida and Vanderbilt games show just how costly it has been. Coach Golesh addressed it directly in a recent press conference, saying the Tigers have to be better on the perimeter if they want to keep explosive plays in check. For a defense that has already had trouble finishing plays, that is not a small detail heading into the next challenge.
Tennessee brings a similar kind of quarterback stress to the table, which makes Auburns tackling problems even more relevant this week. If the Tigers do not tighten up in space, the Vols have the type of offense that can turn a few missed stops into a much longer afternoon, putting even more pressure on Auburns front and secondary to clean things up quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Charles Barkley Just Weighed In On Auburns Early Alex Golesh Debate
Auburns quick start under Alex Golesh has already given the fan base a little something to argue about, and Charles Barkley is stepping into the conversation with a pretty clear message: patience. The Tigers are 3-1 under their new head coach, with two Power Four wins, and the early returns have been good enough to keep optimism alive around a program that has been searching for steadier footing.
Barkleys public backing matters because Auburn supporters rarely stay quiet for long, especially after a new coach gets off to a fast start and the schedule keeps tightening. After the win over Vanderbilt, the next test comes against Tennessee, and those are the kinds of games that tend to sharpen an early verdict fast. For now, though, one of Auburns most recognizable voices is urging the same thing the staff probably wants most: let the process breathe a little. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Fans Can Finally Plan Around One Key SEC Road Trip
Week 5 of the 2026 college football season brings the kind of TV roadmap Auburn fans can use to start circling the calendar, especially with SEC action spread across Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The schedule covers the full slate from Oct. 1 through Oct. 3, with kickoff times listed in Central time and broadcasts spread across the major networks and streaming platforms, giving viewers a clear picture of where to find each matchup.
For Auburn followers, the key value is simple: planning around a road trip in league play gets a lot easier when the SEC schedule is laid out this far in advance. With matchups, start times and viewing options all in one place, fans can figure out travel, watch parties and fallback plans without guessing, even if the final result on the field is still waiting to be written. [Read more 🡒]