Auburn is back in the win column, but the bigger college football news landed while Alex Golesh was busy getting ready for the next one.
The Tigers’ 26-23 win over Arkansas has them moving in the right direction, and now they head to Starkville for an 11 a.m. kickoff against Mississippi State. During his media availability, Golesh was asked about the College Football Playoff’s move to 24 teams in 2027, and his reaction was pretty measured.
“I don’t know if I’ve got any," Golesh said, when asked his thoughts on the expansion. "I think the assumption has been for quite a while that it was going to go to 24 teams.
So, I guess, great. I don’t really have a super opinion.”
For Auburn, the playoff picture is still far down the road in a year-one rebuild. The Tigers are one win away from bowl eligibility for the first time in three seasons, so the immediate focus is much more practical than postseason dreaming.
Still, the expansion comes with another major change: conference championships for Power 4 leagues are being eliminated as part of the new format. Golesh acknowledged that piece too, but didn’t spend much time on it.
“The SEC title game not existing, probably cross that bridge when we get there, too,” Golesh said. “So, I just haven’t thought about it.”
Auburn’s history in the SEC Championship Game gives that comment some context. The Tigers last played for the league title in 2017, falling 28-7 to Georgia.
Before that, they beat Missouri in 2013 and South Carolina in 2010. Since the conference title game started in 1992, Auburn has reached it six times and won three.
Golesh isn’t talking like a coach consumed by playoff math right now, and that fits the moment. Auburn has work to do before any of that becomes real. But with 24 teams in the field, the path to a CFP berth is suddenly a lot less crowded.
“More opportunity for everybody, so let’s ride,” Golesh said.
In Other News...
Auburn Suddenly Faces A Playoff Shakeup Alex Golesh Downplayed
The College Football Playoff is headed for another major overhaul, with the field set to expand to 24 teams starting in 2027 and the current 12-team setup on the way out. The ripple effect has already reached the SEC, which announced it will drop its annual championship game beginning next season, a change that could alter how teams are judged, seeded and positioned in the months that matter most.
For Auburn, the news adds another layer to an already shifting postseason landscape, even if Alex Golesh kept his comments brief when asked about it at a press conference. He acknowledged the changes without offering much in the way of reaction, leaving plenty of room for the bigger question that now hangs over the league: how the new format and the end of the SEC title game will reshape the path to the playoff. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns New-Look Rotation Already Has Two Tough Problems To Solve
Auburns season opener against Southeastern Louisiana offered an early look at just how much turnover this roster is managing. Eight of the 10 players in the rotation were making their official team debuts, including Owen Freeman and Kolby King, and both newcomers were asked to jump in right away. Freeman is still working back from a foot injury, while King arrived after dealing with eligibility issues, but each still found a way to contribute in limited minutes as the Tigers began sorting out roles.
Steven Pearl made it clear the integration has been deliberate, not accidental, as Auburn tries to blend so many fresh faces into a workable rotation. The challenge now is less about identifying talent than figuring out how quickly all of those pieces can settle into place, especially with two players still navigating their own separate hurdles before this group can really show its full shape. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Gets One Last Tune-Up Before A Much Bigger Test
Auburn gets one more chance to settle in at Neville Arena on Monday night, when Appalachian State comes to town for a final tune-up before the schedule stiffens. Steven Pearl has already pointed to the Mountaineers defensive strengths and their depth, a reminder that this is not just a routine home date even if it comes before a much bigger test for the Tigers.
The game will air live on SEC Network and stream on Fubo, with radio coverage on the Auburn Sports Network for fans following along the old-fashioned way. For Auburn, the matchup is less about the spotlight and more about sharpening habits, getting the rotation into rhythm and making sure the details are cleaner before the next step up in competition. [Read more 🡒]