Auburn is rolling into Saturday’s opener with a fresh face at the top, a high-profile opponent across the field and five players chosen to set the tone before the first snap.
The Tigers announced their team captains for the Week 1 matchup with Baylor, and the group is led by transfer quarterback Byrum Brown. Brown followed Alex Golesh to Auburn in the offseason after spending four years in the Bulls program, and now he’ll walk into his first game in orange and blue with captain duties attached.
Brown’s numbers at South Florida help explain why Auburn brought him in. He threw for 7,690 yards there, with 61 touchdowns and 19 interceptions, and the Tigers are hoping that production carries over to the Plains.
He won’t be leading the way alone. Auburn also named safety Champ Anthony, offensive lineman Cole Best, safety Cade Carlson and linebacker Elijah Melendez as captains for the opener.
The game itself has the feel of a spotlight event for Golesh’s first Auburn team. The Tigers and Bears meet at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in the Aflac Kickoff, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m.
ET. ABC will carry the game nationally.
Auburn is trying to start the Golesh era with a win, and ESPN’s FPI gives the Tigers a 72.9% chance to begin 1-0. The program is also looking for a reset in 2026 under the new coaching regime, with the Kalshi market currently weighing in on Auburn’s projected win total in Golesh’s first year.
In Other News...
LSU Just Dropped Auburn Into A Fresh SEC Eligibility Fight
A Louisiana judges ruling in favor of LSU players Zxavian Harris and DaeQuan Wright has added another layer to the SECs eligibility headaches just as the season is getting underway. The court allowed both players to regain college football eligibility despite their recent NFL roster status, and it blocked the SEC, NCAA and LSU from taking actions that would hurt their standing, putting the conference in a spot Auburn fans know well: another rules fight with real on-field consequences.
Harris and Wright have already been practicing with LSU as the Tigers prepare for their opener against Clemson, and the final decision on whether to add them to the roster now sits with LSU. For Auburn, the broader significance is hard to miss. Anything that shifts the SECs eligibility landscape can ripple through the league, and this latest ruling only deepens the uncertainty around how schools and conference officials will handle similar cases moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Suddenly Has Another SEC Problem To Watch Closely
Auburns attention may be split between the usual late-summer roster questions and the broader SEC chessboard, because a new court ruling has suddenly opened the door for more than 40 athletes to remain eligible under NCAA and league rules. Among the players affected are former NFL players Zxavian Harris and DaeQuan Wright, both expected to land on LSUs football roster, a development that could ripple beyond Baton Rouge as conference programs monitor how the eligibility landscape is being handled.
The SEC is planning to appeal the injunction, and it has also filed a separate lawsuit aimed at enforcing new punishments against teams that add ex-professional players. For Auburn and the rest of the league, the practical issue is less about one roster move than the possibility of a longer fight over who can play, who can be added, and what penalties might follow while the legal process continues to work itself out. [Read more 🡒]
Bryson Washingtons Auburn Debut Comes With One Extra Twist
Bryson Washingtons first game in an Auburn uniform comes with an unusual backdrop. The running back transferred in from Baylor, spent preseason working through injuries and conditioning issues, and steadily climbed the Tigers depth chart as camp went on, putting himself in position to be part of the offense right away.
Now the timing adds a layer of intrigue, with Auburn set to face Washingtons former team in his debut. Hugh Freeze has pointed to the work Washington has put in since arriving on campus, and the Tigers could use the extra juice in the backfield as they look to get him rolling in a meaningful spot. [Read more 🡒]