Auburn’s recent run has been so rough that even the smallest sign of life feels worth noticing.
The Tigers are sitting in the middle of one of the bleakest stretches in program history, with five straight losing seasons and six straight years finishing with six wins or fewer. That is a stunning fall for a school with two national championships and eight conference titles, and it has played out through six head coaches, both full-time and interim. Now Auburn is on to No. 7, with South Florida’s Alex Golesh taking over.
Golesh arrives after going 23-15 in three seasons at South Florida. His best year there came last season, when the Bulls finished 9-3. He also brings SEC experience, having served as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator in 2021 and 2022, where he helped drive one of the sport’s best offenses in 2022.
On “The Paul Finebaum Show,” ESPN’s Paul Finebaum said Golesh has already made a noticeable impact around the program.
"Let's drill down on Golesh, because he has made an impression," Finebaum said. "He clearly wasn't the first choice.
Everybody followed the Jon Sumrall situation... I think people are pretty happy with Golesh... the vibe change already in a state where the Auburn football program was close to being flatlined."
That change in feel does not win games by itself, but it matters for a program that has spent years searching for the right direction. Auburn needed something to spark buy-in again, and that seems to be happening early in Golesh’s tenure.
There is also a real football case for optimism. Golesh has a track record at Tennessee and South Florida that gives him credibility, and his offensive background could give Auburn a better chance to compete in the SEC.
Still, the hard part is ahead. Shifting the mood is one thing; changing the results is another. Auburn has to show it can stack wins against the league’s top teams, and the pressure that comes with the school’s history is not going anywhere.
For now, though, Auburn at least looks like a program with some momentum instead of one stuck in place. If Golesh can turn that energy into wins, the Tigers may finally have the coach who can help end one of the darkest runs in their history.
In Other News...
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 🡒]