Alex Golesh didn’t spend much time unpacking Xavier Atkins’ dismissal, and that was the point. Auburn’s head coach made it clear Wednesday that his attention is locked on what comes next, not on revisiting how the Tigers got here.
“I wish X nothing but the best as we move forward,” Golesh said (per Auburn On3’s Justin Hokanson). “I’m like uber, uber-focused on our team and LSU at this point.”
That was Golesh’s brief response when asked what went into the decision to dismiss Atkins from the program. The comment came after Auburn officially announced earlier this week that the former All-American was no longer on the team.
Atkins’ exit follows a suspension for unspecified reasons, and the move became permanent after he was dismissed from the program. Auburn had already been without him for its biggest win of the Alex Golesh era, a victory over No. 1 Georgia.
That made the result even more striking. The Tigers pulled it off without what had been their best player, their star linebacker, on the field.
Atkins arrived at Auburn as a transfer in 2025 and had built another strong season before the suspension and dismissal. In the first five games of the 2026 season, he posted 37 total tackles, 3 sacks, 1 interception, and 7.5 tackles for loss.
Now, it appears Atkins will spend the rest of the academic semester at Auburn before looking for his next opportunity through the transfer portal for the 2027 season. Meanwhile, Golesh and the Tigers have already moved on to LSU.
In Other News...
LSU's SEC Fight Just Raised A New Problem For Will Wade
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has jumped into LSUs ongoing fight with the SEC, filing a motion that seeks to knock out the conferences federal lawsuit against LSU officials. Murrill dismissed the SECs latest claims as a Hail Mary, a sign that the case, which began with allegations aimed at LSU football officials over recruiting ex-pro athletes, has now widened into a much messier battle for the university.
The expansion into mens basketball only adds to the pressure around Will Wades program, especially with the SEC now pressing beyond the original football-related dispute. Wade has already said he plans to follow conference rules that bar athletes who previously signed professional contracts from being rostered, but the conferences broader approach means LSU is now dealing with a legal fight that could reach deeper into how it handles basketball recruiting, too. [Read more 🡒]
LSUs Roster Picture Just Changed With One Big Eligibility Twist
LSUs roster picture got a lot clearer with a wave of eligibility updates that should help settle some of the uncertainty around the mens basketball rotation. Saliou Niang, Brice Dessert, Skyy Clark and Donovan Dent have all been ruled eligible to play, giving the Tigers a stronger sense of what their lineup and depth chart can look like as the season approaches. Niang brings the promise of an athletic upside that has already made him stand out as an NBA draft pick, while Dessert is expected to add help in the frontcourt.
Dent and Clark, who were teammates at UCLA, now look set to be part of LSUs backcourt mix, an encouraging development for a team trying to build continuity in the right places. Even so, not every update was as clean, and one players status came with a less positive note, leaving at least one part of the roster situation still unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Fans Should Keep An Eye On Bryce Underwood's Michigan Drama
Bryce Underwoods situation at Michigan has quickly become one of the more closely watched quarterback storylines in the country, and LSU fans have a natural reason to pay attention. The freshman has been benched, with Tommy Carr expected to take over as the starter in the upcoming game, which has only added to the uncertainty around Underwoods place in Ann Arbor and where his career might be headed next.
Underwood has not entered the transfer portal, but the chatter around his future is already building, and LSU is among the programs being mentioned as a possible landing spot if he chooses to move on. Miami, Texas Tech, Georgia and Kentucky are also in the mix, which means this could become a national recruiting and roster watch for the Tigers if the situation keeps trending in this direction. [Read more 🡒]