Auburn football is staring down a crossroads - and after five straight losing seasons, it’s not just about getting back to relevance. It’s about rebuilding a culture.
Two head coaches have come and gone in that stretch. The Tigers have endured gut-wrenching losses, a revolving door at quarterback, and offensive struggles that left fans wondering when the tide would turn.
That moment, Auburn hopes, begins now.
Enter Alex Golesh.
After a strong stint at USF, Golesh took the reins on the Plains in December 2025, bringing with him a vision, a system, and a few key pieces to jumpstart a program that’s been stuck in neutral. The good news?
In today’s college football landscape, rebuilds don’t have to take years. Thanks to the transfer portal, Golesh has already infused Auburn’s roster with talent - and perhaps just as importantly, familiarity.
Let’s start under center, where Byrum Brown is expected to lead the charge. Brown thrived in Golesh’s system at USF, putting up over 3,100 yards through the air, 28 touchdown passes, and adding another 1,000+ yards and 14 scores on the ground.
That kind of dual-threat production is exactly what Auburn’s offense has been missing. And now, Brown gets to run the same system with the same coach - and the same receivers.
Keshaun Singleton, Jermiah Koger, and Christian Neptune all made the move from Tampa to Auburn, giving Brown a trio of familiar targets who already know the playbook and timing. That kind of continuity is rare in college football, and it could be a major asset as the Tigers try to find their rhythm early in the season.
In the backfield, Brown will be joined by returning running back Jeremiah Cobb, who flashed potential last season and now gets a chance to be a featured piece in Golesh’s up-tempo offense. Together, Brown and Cobb could form one of the more underrated QB-RB duos in the SEC - a conference that knows a thing or two about elite backfields.
But there are still big questions to answer.
The Tigers lost standout wide receiver Cam Coleman, and while the USF trio brings chemistry, replacing Coleman’s upside won’t be easy. More pressing, though, is the offensive line. Auburn has to replace the entire unit up front - a tall task in any league, but especially in the SEC, where defensive lines are fast, physical, and unforgiving.
That’s likely part of the reason why CBS Sports’ early SEC power rankings have Auburn slotted at No. 12 heading into the 2026 season. Analyst Brandon Marcello noted that this version of Auburn might look more like “USF North” than the Auburn of old - but that’s not necessarily a knock. It’s a nod to Golesh’s system, which turned heads in the AAC and now gets its shot on the sport’s biggest stage.
So, what’s realistic for Auburn in Year 1 of the Golesh era?
A Curt Cignetti-style overnight turnaround like what Indiana pulled off might be a stretch, but writing off the Tigers entirely would be premature. There’s enough talent, especially on offense, to make some noise. And if the offensive line gels quicker than expected, Auburn could be a tough out for anyone in the SEC.
This is a program that’s hungry for a winning season - something it hasn’t tasted since Gus Malzahn was on the sidelines. Golesh has the pieces. Now it’s about putting it all together.