The winds of change are blowing through Auburn, and they’re carrying some bold expectations with them. With new head coach Alex Golesh at the helm, the Tigers are eyeing a return to relevance-and maybe more.
After years of inconsistency and underwhelming finishes, there’s a sense that this program is finally ready to turn the corner. And if early predictions are any indication, that corner might come quicker than expected.
According to CBS Sports’ John Talty, Auburn could be in for a significant bounce-back in 2026. Talty projects the Tigers to win seven games and reach bowl eligibility-a feat that’s only happened twice in the last five seasons.
But he didn’t stop there. With the pieces Golesh has assembled, Talty sees a path to as many as nine wins in Year 1.
That’s not wishful thinking-it’s a reflection of the roster overhaul and retention work Golesh has already done. Auburn managed to keep key defensive contributors and hold onto dynamic running back Jeremiah Cobb. But the biggest splash came via the transfer portal, where Golesh brought over several of his former players from USF, including quarterback Byrum Brown.
Brown’s arrival is more than just a reunion-it's a statement. He was the engine of Golesh’s offense at South Florida, and now he gets one season to prove he can do it on the SEC stage.
If he clicks quickly, Auburn’s offense could look radically different from what fans saw under Hugh Freeze or Bryan Harsin. Golesh’s system is built on tempo, creativity, and putting defenses in conflict.
It’s a far cry from the more conservative approaches of recent years.
And that’s what makes this season so intriguing. Auburn isn’t just looking to be competitive-they’re looking to be disruptive.
A team with little to lose and a quarterback with everything to prove can be dangerous. The Tigers may not be on everyone’s radar just yet, but that could change in a hurry if Golesh’s offense takes off.
The schedule won’t do them any favors. Auburn faces a gauntlet that includes Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt.
That’s six SEC matchups that will test every inch of this roster. But Talty believes that even with that brutal stretch, a 9-win season isn’t out of the question.
That’s how much confidence he has in Golesh’s vision-and the talent he’s bringing with him.
And it’s not just about the X’s and O’s. Golesh is setting a tone in the locker room that feels different.
According to On3’s Jake Crain, the new head coach is building a culture rooted in accountability and consistency. Crain drew comparisons to Nick Saban-not in style, but in structure.
Golesh isn’t looking to win over players with promises. He’s looking to build them through shared adversity, high standards, and a relentless focus on the process.
“He’s going to mold them through putting them through the rigor together,” Crain said. “You hear the term ‘process-driven’-that’s 100% true.
That’s why Nick Saban was the best in the world at making every Monday the same, every Tuesday the same… and on Saturday, a lot of it was the same. You’re going to go out there and rip somebody’s a**, because that’s just what you do on this day.”
That kind of mindset is exactly what Auburn has been missing. The program hasn’t won more than six games since 2019.
The fan base is hungry. The players are eager.
And now, with Golesh at the controls and Brown under center, there’s a sense that something real might be building on the Plains.
So, why not Auburn? Every season, one team makes a leap no one saw coming.
Golesh is betting on his system, his quarterback, and his culture to be that spark. And if it all comes together, the Tigers might just be one of the SEC’s biggest surprises in 2026.