Auburn’s 2026 offense still comes with plenty of unknowns, but one part of the roster is drawing real confidence: the backfield.
That’s the area 247Sports’ Christian Clemente pointed to as the Tigers’ biggest offensive strength, and the case starts with the sheer number of proven options Auburn has assembled. Jeremiah Cobb is back after nearly reaching 1,000 yards last season in Hugh Freeze’s incompetent offense, and the Tigers also added Bryson Washington from Baylor, one of the top transfer running backs available this offseason.
“The biggest strength likely comes in the backfield, pairing Brown with a stable of running backs,” Clemente said. “Jeremiah Cobb nearly went for 1,000 yards last year in Hugh Freeze’s incompetent offense, then Auburn went out and added Bryson Washington from Baylor as one of the top transfer running backs.
“You also have Nykahi Davenport who started at USF last year and Tae Meadows who started at Troy last year. So, four different starting running backs along with second-year back Omar Mabson II, who the staff is very high on.”
That kind of depth is part of what makes the room so intriguing. Auburn’s defense thrived last season because it could rotate bodies, keep players fresh and still get impact snaps from multiple contributors. The Tigers may be trying to build the same kind of flexibility on offense with their running backs, where any of the four starters could be used on a given play.
Cobb is expected to lead the way in touches, but Washington, Davenport and Meadows all bring starting experience and enough pedigree to matter right away. Auburn should have a chance to sort out the best combinations before SEC play begins, though the opener against Baylor is not exactly a soft landing.
There’s also a rare level of combined production in the backfield. Cobb, Washington and quarterback Byrum Brown are the only Auburn trio in recent memory to each have more than 1,000 career rushing yards. Brown reached that mark in 2025 alone.
So while Auburn still has questions to answer under new head coach Alex Golesh and with so many new transfers in the mix, the Tigers appear built to be dangerous on the ground. The one thing that could complicate that picture is a key weakness that might shake up the rushing attack in a big way.
In Other News...
Auburn Just Got A Huge 2026 Boost On The Edge
Auburns edge group got a notable lift for 2026 with Chris Murray set to be back in the mix after his first season on the Plains. The veteran pass rusher arrived at Auburn before the 2025 season after stops at TCU and Sam Houston State, and his experience already gives the Tigers a more seasoned option on the defensive front than most teams can count on this far out.
Murrays return matters because Auburn is still sorting out how its defensive line rotation will look next season, and he brings a blend of experience and versatility that should help stabilize that group. Even with injuries complicating parts of his college path, he is expected to be a meaningful piece for Auburn again, with the possibility of lining up in more than one spot depending on how the staff wants to deploy him. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Fans Have Seen This Cam Newton Story Before
A red card in a World Cup match can change the mood around a team in a hurry, and the U.S. found itself dealing with that kind of uncertainty after its top attacking threat was sent off against Bosnia. The initial suspension carried obvious weight with a knockout stage game looming, leaving the Americans to sort through a tense few days as they prepared for the next round.
For Auburn fans, the broader feeling may have sounded familiar long before the details settled in. They have seen a high-profile eligibility scare turn into a reprieve before, and this one came with the same kind of waiting game attached to a big moment on the schedule. The opponent in the round of 16 only added to the stakes, because the difference between missing out and being available again can reshape everything. [Read more 🡒]