Auburn is pinning a lot on Byrum Brown as the program enters 2026 under first-year head coach Alex Golesh, and the former USF quarterback arrives with the kind of continuity the Tigers have been missing. Brown followed Golesh to the Plains, giving Auburn a familiar face at the game’s most important position as the program tries to settle its quarterback situation for the first time in four years.
That hasn’t stopped the skepticism from showing up early in preseason chatter. Josh Pate slotted Brown at No. 9 in his SEC quarterback rankings, placing him behind Alabama’s unnamed QB1 at No. 6.
🚨PRESEASON SEC QB RANKINGS🚨 pic.twitter.com/R4G9ebQqwQ
- Josh Pate (@JoshPateCFB) August 12, 2026
The ranking stands out because Brown brings a real résumé to Auburn. He has already put together a season with 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards, and he is stepping into the same system he has played in under the same head coach and offensive coordinator for the past four seasons. That kind of stability matters, even with the jump from a smaller conference to the SEC.
Pate’s confidence, though, leaned the other way when it came to Alabama. He said he trusts either Austin Mack, who appeared in five games over the last two seasons, or Keelon Russell, who appeared in two games last season, to play at a high level, and that Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer will "max out" his quarterback.
Brown’s placement also fits with Pate’s history of preseason quarterback calls that haven’t aged well. Last year, he ranked DJ Lagway No. 1 and had Jackson Arnold at No.
- Even so, putting Brown behind two largely untested quarterbacks while leaning on the Alabama label is a tough sell.
For Auburn, though, the debate is only part of the picture. Brown still has to prove he can carry his production into the SEC, and that task starts right away. He and the Tigers open the season on September 5 in the Aflac Kickoff Game in Atlanta against Baylor at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
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Auburns Backup QB Race Suddenly Carries Bigger Stakes Than Expected
Auburns quarterback outlook has quietly become one of the more important subplots of the season, with Byrum Brown slated to lead the offense in 2026 but the staff already thinking ahead to what comes next. That makes the backup job more than a placeholder, especially with the natural concerns that come with injuries and the uncertainty once Browns eligibility run is over.
Oregon State transfer Tristian Tia is the one closest to the spotlight, and coach Alex Golesh has made it clear that the sophomore has earned attention in fall camp. Tia still has limited college experience, but he has shown enough growth and sharpness to be viewed as a legitimate piece of Auburns future, which is why the backup battle has taken on a little more weight than anyone probably expected a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns Battle Behind Jeremiah Cobb Is Starting To Get Interesting
Auburns running back room has become one of the more closely watched spots of preseason camp, and for good reason. Jeremiah Cobb is back as the lead option heading into the season under new offensive direction from Alex Golesh and Joel Gordon, while the Tigers are trying to sort out who will settle in behind him. The early signs have been encouraging, with coaches seeing steady progress as players adjust to the new system during recent scrimmages.
Omar Mabson II and Bryson Washington have both pushed themselves into the conversation as the primary backups, giving Auburn some needed depth and competition in the room. Elsewhere, sophomore Alvin Henderson is also making strides, and his recent improvement has put him on the radar for a possible special-teams role. For a position group that could shape how quickly Auburn settles into this offense, the battle behind Cobb is starting to feel like more than routine camp depth chart chatter. [Read more 🡒]
Paul Finebaum Sees A Different Energy Around Auburn Already
After five straight losing seasons and a stretch of six consecutive years with six or fewer wins, Auburn has spent plenty of time trying to reset its football identity. The latest restart comes with Alex Golesh, the former South Florida head coach and Tennessee offensive coordinator, now charged with steering a program that has cycled through six head coaches and is still searching for something more stable.
Paul Finebaum has already noticed a different energy around the Tigers, pointing to the positive vibe Golesh seems to have brought with him. For Auburn, though, the real test remains the same one every new staff faces on the Plains: the atmosphere can change quickly, but the final judgment will come from what happens on the field. [Read more 🡒]