Auburn Football Faces Critical Portal Stretch, While Hoops Prepares for SEC Test in Athens
We're just days away from the next wave of college football roster reshuffling - the transfer portal window that opens on January 2. And if you're Auburn, the questions far outweigh the answers right now. That’s not unique to the Tigers - every program across the country is bracing for impact - but Auburn’s situation is particularly fluid, especially in the trenches.
Offensive Line Overhaul: Auburn's Biggest Portal Priority
Let’s start with the offensive line, because that’s where the most immediate needs - and the biggest losses - are stacking up. With Connor Lew heading to the NFL Draft, Auburn is now without its top six offensive linemen from last season.
That’s not a typo. Six starters or key contributors, all gone.
And it doesn’t stop there.
Backup DeAndre Carter is out. Favour Edwin and Seth Wilfred are also moving on. That’s nine linemen from last year’s roster who are no longer part of the picture - and the number could grow depending on how the portal shakes out in the next couple of weeks.
Auburn did sign five offensive linemen in this year’s freshman class, but let’s be real - asking true freshmen to anchor an SEC offensive line is a tall order. That’s why the portal is going to be crucial. Don’t be surprised if Auburn tries to bring in 8-10 linemen via transfer just to stabilize the depth chart and give the offense a fighting chance in 2025.
And here’s the kicker: the clock is ticking. Auburn’s last day to add players for the spring semester is January 13.
That’s less than two weeks to get 30+ portal additions enrolled and ready for spring ball. Welcome to the new age of college football roster management - part strategy, part speed dating.
Bowl Games in the Transfer Era: Less About the Future, More About the Moment
Now, let’s talk bowl games. Outside of the College Football Playoff, it’s hard to argue that most bowl games still carry the weight they once did.
The days of using a bowl game as a springboard into next season are fading fast. With so many players opting out, transferring, or declaring early for the draft, the roster you see in a bowl game often looks nothing like the one that started the season - and even less like the one that will open next fall.
It’s not that the games don’t matter at all - they still offer reps for younger players and a final showcase for outgoing seniors - but they’re no longer the barometer for a program’s trajectory. Coaches used to talk about momentum heading into the offseason.
Now? They’re just trying to figure out who’s still on the roster by the time spring practice rolls around.
And then there’s the playoff format. The current setup has the first-round games played on campus and the second-round games at bowl sites - and that feels backwards.
If you’re one of the top four seeds, you’ve earned the right to host. Simple as that.
There’s a strong case to be made for moving some of the major bowl games up in the calendar to accommodate that. Give the best teams the home-field advantage they’ve earned - and give fans the kind of playoff atmosphere college football deserves.
Auburn Hoops: Time to See What This Team Is Made Of
While the football program navigates the chaos of the portal, Auburn basketball is gearing up for the real grind - SEC play. The Tigers have one final tune-up on Monday night before heading to Athens to face Georgia in their conference opener. And that game is going to tell us a lot about where this team stands.
Georgia’s likely to be 12-1 by the time Auburn rolls into town, and while their resume isn’t loaded with marquee wins - their best victories are over 9-4 Georgia Tech and Xavier - this is still a dangerous team, especially at home.
The Bulldogs boast one of the most dynamic backcourts Auburn will face all season. Cal transfer Jeremiah Wilkinson and Cain Blue are combining for 34 points per game and have just 22 turnovers between them on the year - that’s efficiency and control from your guards, which is a tough combo to deal with on the road.
Georgia also brings depth and size off the bench, and they’re a force on the glass. Ranked 34th nationally in rebound rate and 15th in offensive rebounding percentage, this team knows how to crash the boards - and that’s been an area where Auburn has shown some vulnerability.
So if you’re watching Saturday’s game and looking for a key stat, keep your eyes on the rebounding battle. If Auburn can hold their own on the glass - especially limiting second-chance points - they’ll put themselves in a strong position to steal a road win. But if Georgia starts piling up extra possessions, it could be a long afternoon in Athens.
The Bottom Line
For Auburn fans, this is one of those rare times where football and basketball are both in the spotlight - for very different reasons. The football team is scrambling to rebuild a roster in real time, while the basketball team is about to enter the most telling stretch of its season.
January is going to be a wild ride on both fronts. Buckle up.