Auburn’s season may have taken a hit with the loss to Florida, but CBS Sports still sees enough there to keep the Tigers inside the top half of the national picture. In the outlet’s latest rankings of all 138 FBS teams, released Monday, Auburn landed at No. 39.
That slot puts the Tigers ahead of Nebraska, Arizona State and Baylor, while leaving them behind Oklahoma State, Duke and Washington. It is not the kind of number Auburn wanted coming out of a game with Florida, but it does show the Tigers are still viewed as a team with something left to play for.
The bigger immediate note for Auburn is that the Tigers are ranked above their next opponent. Vanderbilt comes in at No. 52 after its win over NC State, giving Auburn a small edge on paper heading into that matchup.
After that, though, the road gets rough in a hurry. Auburn’s remaining schedule is loaded, with only one opponent currently ranked lower than the Tigers: Arkansas at No.
- That game does not arrive until November, and plenty can still change for both teams by then.
The rest of Auburn’s slate is packed with heavyweights. The Tigers still have No.
13 Tennessee, No. 2 Georgia, No.
10 LSU, No. 3 Ole Miss, No.
21 Mississippi State and No. 8 Alabama on the schedule, and all of those teams sit in similar spots in the AP Poll.
If Auburn handles Arkansas and Samford, the Tigers would still need to pull off one more win against one of those top-tier opponents to reach bowl eligibility. For a team that has already had a difficult season, that is a steep climb.
The most realistic chances may come against LSU in Jordan-Hare Stadium and on the road against Mississippi State. Even there, though, the challenge is obvious, especially with Kamario Taylor and the Bulldogs’ offense looking incredibly strong so far this season.
Auburn has a lot of work ahead, but the upside is clear: one upset against a major opponent would change the conversation fast and send the Tigers climbing in the rankings.
In Other News...
Auburn Fans Wont Love How Alex Golesh Framed The Vanderbilt Game
Auburn is still trying to find its footing in the SEC, and Alex Golesh is approaching Week 4 like a coach focused on the long view rather than a single alarm bell. He said the matchup with Vanderbilt is not a must-win, instead stressing preparation, consistency and the process of building the program the right way. Golesh also pointed to the Tigers recent defensive issues as an area that has to improve if this team is going to settle in and compete the way it wants to.
That framing may not sit well with a fan base that is already anxious about the early-season picture, especially with Vanderbilt entering unbeaten and working with a new starting quarterback. Auburn does not have the luxury of ignoring the stakes in conference play, and the game offers another test of whether the Tigers can tighten up on defense and show real progress in a league that rarely gives anyone much room to breathe. [Read more 🡒]
Byrum Brown Is Fueling Auburns Biggest Early Season Debate
Byrum Brown has quickly become one of the biggest reasons Auburn has stayed interesting through the first few weeks of the season. Entering Week 4, he ranks fourth in the SEC in passing yards with 756, while also adding 180 yards on the ground, and his production has come with a little bit of everything attached. He has thrown five touchdowns and four interceptions, and Auburn has leaned on a receiving group that includes transfers from USF and a true freshman as it tries to sort out its offensive identity.
The bigger question around Brown is how much of Auburns early offense should run through him while the rushing attack continues to struggle. He has already delivered in key moments, including a notable game against Florida in which he accounted for multiple touchdowns, and that kind of playmaking can change how the Tigers approach every week. For Auburn, the debate now is not whether Brown matters, but how far his arm and legs can carry an offense still looking for more balance. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Fans Need To See Which In-State Standouts Are Taking Off
Karlos Mays rise is another reminder that Alabamas best high school talent is already drawing national attention, and Auburn fans have plenty of reason to keep tabs on it. The defensive lineman, committed to Ohio State, is ranked as the No. 4 prospect in the state and the top-ranked lineman recruit in Alabama, putting him right at the center of the in-state conversation even as the next recruiting cycle starts to take shape.
There is also a broader pattern worth watching from last years top Alabama names once they got to college, with CD Morgan, EJ Crowell and DeShawn Spencer all beginning to show signs of early impact. Spencers path is especially relevant on the Plains, since Auburn coach Alex Golesh played a role in recruiting him, another small reminder that the states high-end talent is already linked back to Auburn in more ways than one. [Read more 🡒]