Football News: 6-25-2026
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Dudley Dent
Jun 25, 2026, 7:38:58 AM (19 hours ago) Jun 25
to Tiger Tracks
Auburn Football News: 6-25-2026
How The Auburn Tigers’ Recent Weekend Illustrates Alex Golesh’s Tenacity:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/auburn-tigers-recent-weekend-alex-golesh-tenacity
National Media Believes Auburn Has A High Chance To Improve on 2025 Season:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/national-media--auburn-improvement-2026-season
Two Auburn Tigers Named Preseason All-Americans by Athlon Sports:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/two-auburn-tigers-named-preseason-all-americans-by-athlon-sports-xavier-atkins-rayshawn-pleasant
Something is not adding up about Duke Smith's Auburn exit:
Former Four-Star Auburn WR Removed From Roster:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/former-four-star-auburn-wr-removed-from-roster-duke-smith
Auburn Tigers Rating Revealed For College Football 27 Video Game:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/auburn-tigers-ratings-revealed-for-college-football-27-video-game-
NCAA proposes new, shorter football transfer portal window, NFL-style OTAs:
https://www.al.com/sports/2026/06/ncaa-proposes-new-shorter-football-transfer-portal-window-nfl-style-otas.html
How The Auburn Tigers’ Recent Weekend Illustrates Alex Golesh’s Tenacity
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
The Auburn Tigers have been on a recruiting heater as of late, which has revealed an underrated aspect of new Auburn head coach Alex Golesh: sheer tenacity. The Tigers have won several key commitments, lost others and even have had a top-tier player flip from their program, but Golesh seems to have never broken stride in his efforts.
In fact, this past weekend may be the perfect microcosm to illustrate exactly how tenacious Golesh has been in recruiting. The Tigers led things off on Friday with the commitment of James Pace, a four-star edge rusher who is currently rated as the second-best edge rusher from the state of Maryland, a state that is rapidly developing into a pipeline for future Tigers.
Pace’s commitment, though impressive, was far from all the work the Tigers did this weekend, though. In fact, amidst rumors that Kingston Miles, a fellow four-star, was trending towards a flip to Missouri, Golesh simply went out and found himself another running back in Khamoni Williams, a three-star who flipped his commitment from Missouri to Auburn on Sunday.
Then, before Miles even had time to announce his flip, the Tigers picked up yet another recruit, this time in the form of three-star safety Preston Williams. It was a two-Williams kind of day for the Tigers, though before the clock struck midnight, Miles, as the rumors suggested, did indeed flip his commitment from Auburn to Missouri, representing the biggest loss the Tigers’ 2027 class has had thus far.
The loss of such a big-time recruit would have rattled many a coach, but Alex Golesh seemed to be completely unfazed, as on Monday night, the Tigers kept right on rolling and earned the commitment of Nasir Banks, a three-star athlete who primarily plays safety.
Then, on Tuesday, the Tigers picked up two top-level commits before the clock even struck noon, as around 10:30 that morning, four-star receiver Deshawn Hall announced that he would, too, be committing to Auburn. Hall’s commitment is one of the biggest wins the Tigers have had this year, as just over a week before his commitment, Hall was over a 90% favorite to land at Penn State.
Was Golesh done? At this point, that answer is just about always a clear and definitive no. The Tigers then went on to pick up Cedrick Simmons, a fellow wide receiver who had been the subject of a massive recruiting battle with Alabama.
At the start of the weekend, Alex Golesh’s class was ranked among the top-10 in the country. As the weekend rolled on and Miles departed, it became unclear as to how exactly the Tigers’ ranking would suffer from his loss, but Golesh did not wait around long enough to find out.
In fact, not only did Golesh flip a running back to fill a roster spot that was full at the time, but he also robbed Penn State of a top-level receiver, took down Alabama in the commitment of another wideout and bolstered his defense in his spare time. Now, with all of the new commits, the Tigers’ class is, once again, rated within the top-10 in the country by 247Sports.
If that is not top-level tenacity, then, well, I would have a hard time telling you what is. All that is left for Golesh to do now is win games with his top-tier talent.
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National Media Believes Auburn Has A High Chance To Improve on 2025 Season
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
If there is one word to describe the 2025 season of the Auburn Tigers, it is almost certainly ‘disappointing.’
The Tigers seemed to have everything going for them: top-level commits, the ‘Freeze Four’ entering their second year, a new transfer quarterback in Jackson Arnold and a DJ Durkin defense to be feared.
But, of course, the Tigers fell flat on their faces when it mattered. When one examines Auburn’s 2026 roster, an objective audience may find it hard to say that the Tigers will be better this season. After all, the Tigers lost the aforementioned ‘Freeze Four,’ many top-level defensive pieces, including first-round pick Keldric Faulk and have brought in an offense mostly made up of USF transfers.
However, ESPN is quite high on the Tigers’ chances to improve from an abysmal 5-7 season, and has even granted the Tigers a 73.9% chance to improve on their 2025 season. This certainly says something about the belief in Alex Golesh, who seems to have been inspiring confidence in the Tigers since the day he stepped onto campus for the first time.
A large part of this ranking could be due to what is expected to be a top-level rushing attack consisting of Auburn returner Jeremiah Cobb, Baylor transfer Bryson Washington, dual-threat quarterback Byrum Brown and a host of younger, highly-talented backs waiting in the wings.
Perhaps the fact that the team is, in fact, so different is contributing to this ranking, as Hugh Freeze’s approach did not seem to work in the slightest, as the Tigers consistently stayed in games, even against top-level opponents, but could never provide the offensive help their defense needed.
A major benefit of bringing over nearly an entire offense from USF is the knowledge of Golesh’s scheme, which turns the tables, interestingly, to Auburn returners having to learn a system from the new guys, not the other way around. However, this familiarity should result in less time needing to be spent on installation, which leaves plenty of time to practice execution.
For what it is worth, ESPN also granted the Tigers a chance to have a 2026 season with 11 wins or more, though that percentage sits at a miniscule 0.2%, the lowest of any team that was not given a flat-out zero. The Tigers are, needless to say, extremely unlikely to win 11 games or more this season, though it is an interesting vote of confidence from ESPN to even say that there is a chance at all.
The bar is on the floor for Alex Golesh, who could easily consider the 2026 season as a win with six to seven wins, as the Tigers have not had a winning (or even .500) season since 2020.
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Two Auburn Tigers Named Preseason All-Americans by Athlon Sports
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
The sun has yet to rise on an Auburn Tigers gameday in 2026, and yet two Tigers are already being recognized for the value they are expected to bring to the team this season. On Wednesday, Athlon Sports released their official preseason All-American list, and both Xavier Atkins and Rayshawn Pleasant were named.
https://x.com/AuburnFootball/status/2069843037606260909?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2069843037606260909%7Ctwgr%5E175599a7b4b447c756ff1bff2f53615098dca831%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Fcollege%2Fauburn%2Ffootball%2Ftwo-auburn-tigers-named-preseason-all-americans-by-athlon-sports-xavier-atkins-rayshawn-pleasant
Atkins was named as a first-teamer on defense, and for good reason. The Tigers’ star linebacker took over just about every game he was in last season, posting a ridiculous 84 total tackles, 60 solo tackles, nine sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception in his first real season as a starter in the SEC.
Atkins transferred over from LSU ahead of the 2025 season, and the Bayou Bengals are certainly missing out on his impact, as the sophomore managed to rein in Second Team All-America honors, First Team All-SEC honors, a nod as a Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalist, a nod as Monday Morning QB Birmingham Club’s SEC Most Valuable Lineman and a SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week and Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Tigers’ matchup with Arkansas, all in one season.
Atkins, however, is not satisfied with one good season.
“[The 2026 season is] gonna be the same, but even better, like technique-wise and all that,” Atkins said back in March. “It’s the small things that get you the edge, you know. Every linebacker can run and every linebacker can do something at a high level, but can you keep doing those same little things over and over, keeping that discipline.”
A fellow defensive standout, Rayshawn Pleasant, also earned All-American honors from Athlon, though it may not be in the way you expect it. Pleasant excelled as a safety for the Tigers in 2025, but he also contributed in special teams as a kick returner, for which he earned his All-American nod.
Pleasant is a third-teamer, according to Athlon, though his presence in kickoff returns cannot be understated. At Tulane in 2024, Pleasant took two kickoffs to the house, and in the Tigers’ season-opener against Baylor last year, Pleasant took all of the energy out of Baylor fans with a kick return touchdown, a quick response to the over four-minute touchdown drive the Bears had just led.
Without a doubt, the Tigers have some top-level talent on their defense this year, and the fact that they are already receiving recognition bodes incredibly well for the Tigers’ chances at a top-level season in 2026.
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Something is not adding up about Duke Smith's Auburn exit
By Andrew Hughes
Fly War Eagle
Duke Smith's departure from the Auburn Tigers has raised many questions that may never be answered. There's been no word on EDGE Da'Shawn Womack's arrest in downtown Auburn from several weeks ago from Alex Golesh's program, and there may not be any clarity on what happened with the former 4-star Southside Selma receiver, either.
Smith's exit from the program has vague details surrounding it right now from the top sources at the program. 247Sports' Nathan King shared sparse details about the events leading to Smith's departure.
"Auburn redshirt freshman wide receiver Duke Smith is no longer on the team, an Auburn spokesperson confirmed Tuesday night. Smith has been removed from the Tigers' official roster," King wrote. "A source close to the program told Auburn Undercover that Smith was dismissed for violating team rules.
"A 4-star recruit from Selma in Auburn's 2025 class, Smith and his brother, Erick, were two of four returning receivers from last year's team, joining Bryce Cain and Sam Turner. Duke Smith appeared to take a step forward in a deep receiving corps this past spring and was also involved on kickoffs."
"Violating team rules" is quite the explanation. What rule? Was it multiple? The vague language certainly leaves the door open for plenty of possibilities.
On3's Justin Hokanson, who is as pro-player as a reporter gets, simply quote-tweeted his colleague Bryan Matthews' report on Smith's departure and said "Gone." Something is up there, since, as King notes, Smith was clearly on an upward trajectory.
Smith, a Hugh Freeze recruit, played seven snaps last season in two games and was mostly a special teams player. He did the small things well, recording a 78.4 PFF run-blocking grade, but he was clearly in a developmental phase. That development will not be happening on the Plains.
Simply put, whatever happened doesn't need to break containment. Football locker rooms across the country, including winning ones, have things that many casual fans' ears can't handle. When you play a sport where everyone is in pain all the time, things happen. Tempers flare. Things don't need to escape the locker room, though.
Certianly not this one. AU has had enough drama over the past five years.
The better the job Alex Golesh does, the less you'll hear about locker room issues
Hugh Freeze's locker room issues were hard to ignore, given how bad the product looked on the field on his side of the ball. What really happened between Freeze and Cadillac Williams in the locker room behind the scenes has basically been forgotten about, but it tore the team apart in 2023. How things changed from the first two-thirds of the 2021 season to the 2022 offseason proved something was awry behind the scenes with Bryan Harsin. That was a full-on cultural breakdown during the Boise native's years in charge.
Things were not all hunky dory under Nick Saban, though, either. Far from it. That just wasn't the narrative in Tuscaloosa when the results were so strong. Ditto for Kirby Smart's Georgia Bulldogs locker room in Athens. Those problems are well-documented. They haven't been the vehicle to Smart's demise at UGA.
They won big, though. Their college towns and the states surrounding those towns idolize them. They were/are given a pass for that. Is that correct morally? No, but this is college football. Those at the top aren't concerning themselves with matters like "morality."
Golesh is handling matters in ways he sees fit. If the results follow, you are going to know less about what's really going on behind the scenes. And you may be better off for it.
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Former Four-Star Auburn WR Removed From Roster
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
As the Auburn Tigers continue to focus on recruiting, opportunities for new head coach Alex Golesh to uphold his culture are beginning to crop up.
Recently, edge rusher Da’Shawn Womack got into a spot of legal trouble, as he was arrested on a charge of reckless endangerment, and now, Duke Smith has been removed from the Tigers’ roster.
The reason for this removal is uncertain at this time, but, of course, the rumor mill is churning as per usual. There are several popular theories, though nothing has been confirmed by the university. Auburn, Smith and Golesh have yet to release a statement.
Smith’s name is not one many Tiger fans would likely know at this point in the season, as he only played in four games last season: Ball State, Mercer, Oklahoma and South Alabama. Smith did not record a reception in his only season with the Tigers.
As a prospect out of Southside Selma in Alabama, Smith was a four-star wide receiver prospect who finished with a ranking as the 13th-best athlete in the country, as well as the 12th-best player from his home state of Alabama.
As mentioned, the Tigers have yet to release a statement, but the fact that Smith was removed from the roster, as opposed to quitting, implies that there may have been some issues, though what exactly those issues are remains uncertain.
This is not the first time the Tigers have watched a player walk over the last few seasons, as midway through the 2025 season, Auburn running back Damari Alston was dismissed from the team for an undisclosed reason. Alston is now signed with Tulsa.
Alex Golesh has preached culture and community since he walked onto campus, though he has also been very clear that he cares about his players. His class of 2027 group should tell you all you need to know on the latter point– after all, it is hard to sign players who do not believe you care about them.
A player’s removal from the roster is typically a last resort, so Golesh and company almost certainly had a very legitimate gripe with something that Smith was either doing or not doing.
Auburn was not set to rely heavily on Smith in 2026, which could also potentially have contributed to some frustration on Smith’s part, but the loss of a former four-star in a position group where the Tigers are, admittedly, not the strongest will certainly make a difference come September.
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Auburn Tigers Rating Revealed For College Football 27 Video Game
By Griffin Barfield
Auburn Tigers on SI
Compared to last season, there’s a lot more excitement around the Auburn football program, and it comes from the top with new head coach Alex Golesh.
The Tigers recently found out their rating for the College Football 27 video game, which is set to come out later this summer. EA Sports, the developer, also released different rankings like crowd impact and initial player ratings, for some of the superstars in the sport.
Perhaps Auburn needs to come out hot in the 2026 season if it wants its rating changed, as the Tigers are 83-rated in the game. That’s one lower than where they were last season. While names like Cam Coleman and Eric Singleton Jr. on different teams play a factor, it leaves the program with something to prove next season.
Offense:
2025 Rating: 85
2026 Rating: 86
Auburn’s offense is expected to be better next season, both on the field and in-game, and it comes from the overhaul that Golesh brought through the transfer portal. That includes a plethora of players that he brought with him from USF.
The main man will be quarterback Byrum Brown, who had a strong fourth season with the Bulls, to record over 4,000 total yards in 2025. He played a factor in Auburn’s number, similar to how Oklahoma transfer Jackson Arnold influenced the program last season.
A handful of USF receivers will help the offense, while Jeremiah Cobb is expected to be the lead back on offense. Baylor transfer Bryson Washington and USF transfer Nykahi Davenport will surely help, too. Meanwhile, Golesh will hope that his transfer center from his old school, Cole Best, helped lead an offensive line with some returning pieces.
There’s a lot of upside on this Auburn offense; it will be if Golesh can put it all together in just his first year.
Defense:
2025 Rating: 84
2026 Rating: 80
Last season, the Tigers’ defense was the unit that helped keep it in games. DJ Durkin’s group was seventh in the SEC last season in points allowed, with only 20.67 points per game.
It’s an impressive number for a team with so much change midseason. However, Auburn lost plenty of different players and three players on the defensive line were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
That includes edge rushers Kendric Faulk and Keyron Crawford, meaning Durkin will have to rely on returners like Jared Smith. Defensive tackle Bobby Jamison-Travis is gone, but Auburn picked up Arkansas State transfer Cody Sigler to help fill the hole.
The big player on defense will be linebacker Xavier Atkins, who has already received national attention for preseason honors thus far. Perhaps he is the highest-rated player on the team when everything is revealed.
Both returners with something to prove and transfers will need to answer the call if the Tigers want to be just as good as they were on defense. With Durkin at the helm, it’s very possible.
Stadium Ranking: 14
https://x.com/AuburnFootball/status/2069179359911354872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2069179359911354872%7Ctwgr%5E7ad34570937336f6679498b9fcf1a19b3f17745b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Fcollege%2Fauburn%2Ffootball%2Fauburn-tigers-ratings-revealed-for-college-football-27-video-game-
With the game’s trademarked “stadium pulse” gimmick, Auburn will have some pull when playing at Jordan-Hare Stadium, being the 14th-toughest place to play in the game if one is playing against the Tigers.
It doesn’t come as a shock; Auburn typically has one of the loudest environments in college football for quite some time. As does the rest of the SEC, with nine of the 20 teams that were revealed in the ranking coming from the conference.
The Tigers have major home games on the schedule that will need that noise against the SEC, namely LSU, Florida and Vanderbilt. Especially if the program gets one win against any of those teams, it will be a step in the right direction for Golesh in his first season.
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NCAA proposes new, shorter football transfer portal window, NFL-style OTAs
By Creg Stephenson
al.com
The NCAA FBS Oversight Committee is proposing another alteration to the transfer portal window and potentially the elimination of spring football practice as we know it.
Under the new policy, which will be formally voted on in August, the single FBS transfer portal window would run for 10 days beginning on the first business day following Jan. 1. The current portal window runs for 15 days from Jan. 2-16.
If adopted for 2027, the transfer portal window would run from Jan. 4-13. New Year’s Day 2027 is on a Friday, meaning the next business day would be the following Monday.
As with the previous portal period, the new transfer window would take place in the middle of the College Football Playoff. Presumably, players whose teams are still participating in the CFP as of Jan. 4 would have an additional, later portal period.
In place of spring practice would be NFL style “Organized Team Activities” — OTAs, for short — that could take place in two five-to-seven week periods during the offseason. Teams would be allowed 21 formal practices, and must designate nine weeks in which no practices or formal workouts may take place.
Preseason practice — AKA, “fall camp” — would be modified to include 21 practices over a 27-day period in August and/or late July. Currently, teams are allowed 25 preseason practices.
How The Auburn Tigers’ Recent Weekend Illustrates Alex Golesh’s Tenacity:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/auburn-tigers-recent-weekend-alex-golesh-tenacity
National Media Believes Auburn Has A High Chance To Improve on 2025 Season:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/national-media--auburn-improvement-2026-season
Two Auburn Tigers Named Preseason All-Americans by Athlon Sports:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/two-auburn-tigers-named-preseason-all-americans-by-athlon-sports-xavier-atkins-rayshawn-pleasant
Something is not adding up about Duke Smith's Auburn exit:
Former Four-Star Auburn WR Removed From Roster:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/former-four-star-auburn-wr-removed-from-roster-duke-smith
Auburn Tigers Rating Revealed For College Football 27 Video Game:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/auburn-tigers-ratings-revealed-for-college-football-27-video-game-
NCAA proposes new, shorter football transfer portal window, NFL-style OTAs:
https://www.al.com/sports/2026/06/ncaa-proposes-new-shorter-football-transfer-portal-window-nfl-style-otas.html
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By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
The Auburn Tigers have been on a recruiting heater as of late, which has revealed an underrated aspect of new Auburn head coach Alex Golesh: sheer tenacity. The Tigers have won several key commitments, lost others and even have had a top-tier player flip from their program, but Golesh seems to have never broken stride in his efforts.
In fact, this past weekend may be the perfect microcosm to illustrate exactly how tenacious Golesh has been in recruiting. The Tigers led things off on Friday with the commitment of James Pace, a four-star edge rusher who is currently rated as the second-best edge rusher from the state of Maryland, a state that is rapidly developing into a pipeline for future Tigers.
Pace’s commitment, though impressive, was far from all the work the Tigers did this weekend, though. In fact, amidst rumors that Kingston Miles, a fellow four-star, was trending towards a flip to Missouri, Golesh simply went out and found himself another running back in Khamoni Williams, a three-star who flipped his commitment from Missouri to Auburn on Sunday.
Then, before Miles even had time to announce his flip, the Tigers picked up yet another recruit, this time in the form of three-star safety Preston Williams. It was a two-Williams kind of day for the Tigers, though before the clock struck midnight, Miles, as the rumors suggested, did indeed flip his commitment from Auburn to Missouri, representing the biggest loss the Tigers’ 2027 class has had thus far.
The loss of such a big-time recruit would have rattled many a coach, but Alex Golesh seemed to be completely unfazed, as on Monday night, the Tigers kept right on rolling and earned the commitment of Nasir Banks, a three-star athlete who primarily plays safety.
Then, on Tuesday, the Tigers picked up two top-level commits before the clock even struck noon, as around 10:30 that morning, four-star receiver Deshawn Hall announced that he would, too, be committing to Auburn. Hall’s commitment is one of the biggest wins the Tigers have had this year, as just over a week before his commitment, Hall was over a 90% favorite to land at Penn State.
Was Golesh done? At this point, that answer is just about always a clear and definitive no. The Tigers then went on to pick up Cedrick Simmons, a fellow wide receiver who had been the subject of a massive recruiting battle with Alabama.
At the start of the weekend, Alex Golesh’s class was ranked among the top-10 in the country. As the weekend rolled on and Miles departed, it became unclear as to how exactly the Tigers’ ranking would suffer from his loss, but Golesh did not wait around long enough to find out.
In fact, not only did Golesh flip a running back to fill a roster spot that was full at the time, but he also robbed Penn State of a top-level receiver, took down Alabama in the commitment of another wideout and bolstered his defense in his spare time. Now, with all of the new commits, the Tigers’ class is, once again, rated within the top-10 in the country by 247Sports.
If that is not top-level tenacity, then, well, I would have a hard time telling you what is. All that is left for Golesh to do now is win games with his top-tier talent.
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National Media Believes Auburn Has A High Chance To Improve on 2025 Season
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
If there is one word to describe the 2025 season of the Auburn Tigers, it is almost certainly ‘disappointing.’
The Tigers seemed to have everything going for them: top-level commits, the ‘Freeze Four’ entering their second year, a new transfer quarterback in Jackson Arnold and a DJ Durkin defense to be feared.
But, of course, the Tigers fell flat on their faces when it mattered. When one examines Auburn’s 2026 roster, an objective audience may find it hard to say that the Tigers will be better this season. After all, the Tigers lost the aforementioned ‘Freeze Four,’ many top-level defensive pieces, including first-round pick Keldric Faulk and have brought in an offense mostly made up of USF transfers.
However, ESPN is quite high on the Tigers’ chances to improve from an abysmal 5-7 season, and has even granted the Tigers a 73.9% chance to improve on their 2025 season. This certainly says something about the belief in Alex Golesh, who seems to have been inspiring confidence in the Tigers since the day he stepped onto campus for the first time.
A large part of this ranking could be due to what is expected to be a top-level rushing attack consisting of Auburn returner Jeremiah Cobb, Baylor transfer Bryson Washington, dual-threat quarterback Byrum Brown and a host of younger, highly-talented backs waiting in the wings.
Perhaps the fact that the team is, in fact, so different is contributing to this ranking, as Hugh Freeze’s approach did not seem to work in the slightest, as the Tigers consistently stayed in games, even against top-level opponents, but could never provide the offensive help their defense needed.
A major benefit of bringing over nearly an entire offense from USF is the knowledge of Golesh’s scheme, which turns the tables, interestingly, to Auburn returners having to learn a system from the new guys, not the other way around. However, this familiarity should result in less time needing to be spent on installation, which leaves plenty of time to practice execution.
For what it is worth, ESPN also granted the Tigers a chance to have a 2026 season with 11 wins or more, though that percentage sits at a miniscule 0.2%, the lowest of any team that was not given a flat-out zero. The Tigers are, needless to say, extremely unlikely to win 11 games or more this season, though it is an interesting vote of confidence from ESPN to even say that there is a chance at all.
The bar is on the floor for Alex Golesh, who could easily consider the 2026 season as a win with six to seven wins, as the Tigers have not had a winning (or even .500) season since 2020.
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Two Auburn Tigers Named Preseason All-Americans by Athlon Sports
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
The sun has yet to rise on an Auburn Tigers gameday in 2026, and yet two Tigers are already being recognized for the value they are expected to bring to the team this season. On Wednesday, Athlon Sports released their official preseason All-American list, and both Xavier Atkins and Rayshawn Pleasant were named.
https://x.com/AuburnFootball/status/2069843037606260909?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2069843037606260909%7Ctwgr%5E175599a7b4b447c756ff1bff2f53615098dca831%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Fcollege%2Fauburn%2Ffootball%2Ftwo-auburn-tigers-named-preseason-all-americans-by-athlon-sports-xavier-atkins-rayshawn-pleasant
Atkins was named as a first-teamer on defense, and for good reason. The Tigers’ star linebacker took over just about every game he was in last season, posting a ridiculous 84 total tackles, 60 solo tackles, nine sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception in his first real season as a starter in the SEC.
Atkins transferred over from LSU ahead of the 2025 season, and the Bayou Bengals are certainly missing out on his impact, as the sophomore managed to rein in Second Team All-America honors, First Team All-SEC honors, a nod as a Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalist, a nod as Monday Morning QB Birmingham Club’s SEC Most Valuable Lineman and a SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week and Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Tigers’ matchup with Arkansas, all in one season.
Atkins, however, is not satisfied with one good season.
“[The 2026 season is] gonna be the same, but even better, like technique-wise and all that,” Atkins said back in March. “It’s the small things that get you the edge, you know. Every linebacker can run and every linebacker can do something at a high level, but can you keep doing those same little things over and over, keeping that discipline.”
A fellow defensive standout, Rayshawn Pleasant, also earned All-American honors from Athlon, though it may not be in the way you expect it. Pleasant excelled as a safety for the Tigers in 2025, but he also contributed in special teams as a kick returner, for which he earned his All-American nod.
Pleasant is a third-teamer, according to Athlon, though his presence in kickoff returns cannot be understated. At Tulane in 2024, Pleasant took two kickoffs to the house, and in the Tigers’ season-opener against Baylor last year, Pleasant took all of the energy out of Baylor fans with a kick return touchdown, a quick response to the over four-minute touchdown drive the Bears had just led.
Without a doubt, the Tigers have some top-level talent on their defense this year, and the fact that they are already receiving recognition bodes incredibly well for the Tigers’ chances at a top-level season in 2026.
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Something is not adding up about Duke Smith's Auburn exit
By Andrew Hughes
Fly War Eagle
Duke Smith's departure from the Auburn Tigers has raised many questions that may never be answered. There's been no word on EDGE Da'Shawn Womack's arrest in downtown Auburn from several weeks ago from Alex Golesh's program, and there may not be any clarity on what happened with the former 4-star Southside Selma receiver, either.
Smith's exit from the program has vague details surrounding it right now from the top sources at the program. 247Sports' Nathan King shared sparse details about the events leading to Smith's departure.
"Auburn redshirt freshman wide receiver Duke Smith is no longer on the team, an Auburn spokesperson confirmed Tuesday night. Smith has been removed from the Tigers' official roster," King wrote. "A source close to the program told Auburn Undercover that Smith was dismissed for violating team rules.
"A 4-star recruit from Selma in Auburn's 2025 class, Smith and his brother, Erick, were two of four returning receivers from last year's team, joining Bryce Cain and Sam Turner. Duke Smith appeared to take a step forward in a deep receiving corps this past spring and was also involved on kickoffs."
"Violating team rules" is quite the explanation. What rule? Was it multiple? The vague language certainly leaves the door open for plenty of possibilities.
On3's Justin Hokanson, who is as pro-player as a reporter gets, simply quote-tweeted his colleague Bryan Matthews' report on Smith's departure and said "Gone." Something is up there, since, as King notes, Smith was clearly on an upward trajectory.
Smith, a Hugh Freeze recruit, played seven snaps last season in two games and was mostly a special teams player. He did the small things well, recording a 78.4 PFF run-blocking grade, but he was clearly in a developmental phase. That development will not be happening on the Plains.
Simply put, whatever happened doesn't need to break containment. Football locker rooms across the country, including winning ones, have things that many casual fans' ears can't handle. When you play a sport where everyone is in pain all the time, things happen. Tempers flare. Things don't need to escape the locker room, though.
Certianly not this one. AU has had enough drama over the past five years.
The better the job Alex Golesh does, the less you'll hear about locker room issues
Hugh Freeze's locker room issues were hard to ignore, given how bad the product looked on the field on his side of the ball. What really happened between Freeze and Cadillac Williams in the locker room behind the scenes has basically been forgotten about, but it tore the team apart in 2023. How things changed from the first two-thirds of the 2021 season to the 2022 offseason proved something was awry behind the scenes with Bryan Harsin. That was a full-on cultural breakdown during the Boise native's years in charge.
Things were not all hunky dory under Nick Saban, though, either. Far from it. That just wasn't the narrative in Tuscaloosa when the results were so strong. Ditto for Kirby Smart's Georgia Bulldogs locker room in Athens. Those problems are well-documented. They haven't been the vehicle to Smart's demise at UGA.
They won big, though. Their college towns and the states surrounding those towns idolize them. They were/are given a pass for that. Is that correct morally? No, but this is college football. Those at the top aren't concerning themselves with matters like "morality."
Golesh is handling matters in ways he sees fit. If the results follow, you are going to know less about what's really going on behind the scenes. And you may be better off for it.
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Former Four-Star Auburn WR Removed From Roster
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
As the Auburn Tigers continue to focus on recruiting, opportunities for new head coach Alex Golesh to uphold his culture are beginning to crop up.
Recently, edge rusher Da’Shawn Womack got into a spot of legal trouble, as he was arrested on a charge of reckless endangerment, and now, Duke Smith has been removed from the Tigers’ roster.
The reason for this removal is uncertain at this time, but, of course, the rumor mill is churning as per usual. There are several popular theories, though nothing has been confirmed by the university. Auburn, Smith and Golesh have yet to release a statement.
Smith’s name is not one many Tiger fans would likely know at this point in the season, as he only played in four games last season: Ball State, Mercer, Oklahoma and South Alabama. Smith did not record a reception in his only season with the Tigers.
As a prospect out of Southside Selma in Alabama, Smith was a four-star wide receiver prospect who finished with a ranking as the 13th-best athlete in the country, as well as the 12th-best player from his home state of Alabama.
As mentioned, the Tigers have yet to release a statement, but the fact that Smith was removed from the roster, as opposed to quitting, implies that there may have been some issues, though what exactly those issues are remains uncertain.
This is not the first time the Tigers have watched a player walk over the last few seasons, as midway through the 2025 season, Auburn running back Damari Alston was dismissed from the team for an undisclosed reason. Alston is now signed with Tulsa.
Alex Golesh has preached culture and community since he walked onto campus, though he has also been very clear that he cares about his players. His class of 2027 group should tell you all you need to know on the latter point– after all, it is hard to sign players who do not believe you care about them.
A player’s removal from the roster is typically a last resort, so Golesh and company almost certainly had a very legitimate gripe with something that Smith was either doing or not doing.
Auburn was not set to rely heavily on Smith in 2026, which could also potentially have contributed to some frustration on Smith’s part, but the loss of a former four-star in a position group where the Tigers are, admittedly, not the strongest will certainly make a difference come September.
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Auburn Tigers Rating Revealed For College Football 27 Video Game
By Griffin Barfield
Auburn Tigers on SI
Compared to last season, there’s a lot more excitement around the Auburn football program, and it comes from the top with new head coach Alex Golesh.
The Tigers recently found out their rating for the College Football 27 video game, which is set to come out later this summer. EA Sports, the developer, also released different rankings like crowd impact and initial player ratings, for some of the superstars in the sport.
Perhaps Auburn needs to come out hot in the 2026 season if it wants its rating changed, as the Tigers are 83-rated in the game. That’s one lower than where they were last season. While names like Cam Coleman and Eric Singleton Jr. on different teams play a factor, it leaves the program with something to prove next season.
Offense:
2025 Rating: 85
2026 Rating: 86
Auburn’s offense is expected to be better next season, both on the field and in-game, and it comes from the overhaul that Golesh brought through the transfer portal. That includes a plethora of players that he brought with him from USF.
The main man will be quarterback Byrum Brown, who had a strong fourth season with the Bulls, to record over 4,000 total yards in 2025. He played a factor in Auburn’s number, similar to how Oklahoma transfer Jackson Arnold influenced the program last season.
A handful of USF receivers will help the offense, while Jeremiah Cobb is expected to be the lead back on offense. Baylor transfer Bryson Washington and USF transfer Nykahi Davenport will surely help, too. Meanwhile, Golesh will hope that his transfer center from his old school, Cole Best, helped lead an offensive line with some returning pieces.
There’s a lot of upside on this Auburn offense; it will be if Golesh can put it all together in just his first year.
Defense:
2025 Rating: 84
2026 Rating: 80
Last season, the Tigers’ defense was the unit that helped keep it in games. DJ Durkin’s group was seventh in the SEC last season in points allowed, with only 20.67 points per game.
It’s an impressive number for a team with so much change midseason. However, Auburn lost plenty of different players and three players on the defensive line were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
That includes edge rushers Kendric Faulk and Keyron Crawford, meaning Durkin will have to rely on returners like Jared Smith. Defensive tackle Bobby Jamison-Travis is gone, but Auburn picked up Arkansas State transfer Cody Sigler to help fill the hole.
The big player on defense will be linebacker Xavier Atkins, who has already received national attention for preseason honors thus far. Perhaps he is the highest-rated player on the team when everything is revealed.
Both returners with something to prove and transfers will need to answer the call if the Tigers want to be just as good as they were on defense. With Durkin at the helm, it’s very possible.
Stadium Ranking: 14
https://x.com/AuburnFootball/status/2069179359911354872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2069179359911354872%7Ctwgr%5E7ad34570937336f6679498b9fcf1a19b3f17745b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Fcollege%2Fauburn%2Ffootball%2Fauburn-tigers-ratings-revealed-for-college-football-27-video-game-
With the game’s trademarked “stadium pulse” gimmick, Auburn will have some pull when playing at Jordan-Hare Stadium, being the 14th-toughest place to play in the game if one is playing against the Tigers.
It doesn’t come as a shock; Auburn typically has one of the loudest environments in college football for quite some time. As does the rest of the SEC, with nine of the 20 teams that were revealed in the ranking coming from the conference.
The Tigers have major home games on the schedule that will need that noise against the SEC, namely LSU, Florida and Vanderbilt. Especially if the program gets one win against any of those teams, it will be a step in the right direction for Golesh in his first season.
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NCAA proposes new, shorter football transfer portal window, NFL-style OTAs
By Creg Stephenson
al.com
The NCAA FBS Oversight Committee is proposing another alteration to the transfer portal window and potentially the elimination of spring football practice as we know it.
Under the new policy, which will be formally voted on in August, the single FBS transfer portal window would run for 10 days beginning on the first business day following Jan. 1. The current portal window runs for 15 days from Jan. 2-16.
If adopted for 2027, the transfer portal window would run from Jan. 4-13. New Year’s Day 2027 is on a Friday, meaning the next business day would be the following Monday.
As with the previous portal period, the new transfer window would take place in the middle of the College Football Playoff. Presumably, players whose teams are still participating in the CFP as of Jan. 4 would have an additional, later portal period.
In place of spring practice would be NFL style “Organized Team Activities” — OTAs, for short — that could take place in two five-to-seven week periods during the offseason. Teams would be allowed 21 formal practices, and must designate nine weeks in which no practices or formal workouts may take place.
Preseason practice — AKA, “fall camp” — would be modified to include 21 practices over a 27-day period in August and/or late July. Currently, teams are allowed 25 preseason practices.
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