Football News: 8-11-2026
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Dudley Dent
Aug 11, 2026, 7:40:37 AM (6 days ago) Aug 11
to Tiger Tracks
Auburn Football News: 8-11-2026
Why Auburn WR Jeremiah Koger Isn't Worried About Jump to SEC Football:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/auburn-wide-receiver-jeremiah-koger-jump-sec-football
Opposing coach dismisses first-round draft hype surrounding Auburn QB Byrum Brown:
https://flywareagle.com/opposing-coach-dismisses-first-round-draft-hype-surrounding-auburn-qb-byrum-brown
Kodi Burns pushes back on concerns about Auburn's new WR corps:
https://flywareagle.com/kodi-burns-pushes-back-concerns-about-auburn-new-wr-corps
Auburn Co-OC Kodi Burns Issues Challenge to Top Tiger Receiver: ‘Be a Guy’:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/auburn-offensive-coordinator-kodi-burns-challenges-jeremiah-koger
On the Plains with Cody Sigler: From D-II to the SEC:
https://auburntigers.com/news/2026/08/10/on-the-plains-with-cody-sigler-from-d-ii-to-the-sec
Cody Sigler seen as the top returning defensive tackle by PFF:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/football/2026/08/10/auburn-football-dl-cody-sigler-tops-pff-returning-defensive-tackles/91247939007/
Auburn's Rayshawn Pleasant included in Hornung Award watchlist:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/football/2026/08/10/auburn-football-hornung-award-watchlist-rayshawn-pleasant/91243463007/
CFP analyst predicts hot start, bowl bid for Auburn football in 2026:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/football/2026/08/10/auburn-football-schedule-prediction-2026-alex-golesh/91240279007/
2026 Opponent Breakdown: Game 4 vs. Vanderbilt:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/taking-a-look-at-the-vanderbilt-commodores-who-auburn-will-face-in-week-4-288818946/
Two former Auburn coordinators headline potential Mike Norvell replacement options for FSU:
https://flywareagle.com/two-former-auburn-coordinators-headline-potential-mike-norvell-replacement-options-fsu
Derrick Brown included in NFL Top 100 ranking:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/football/2026/08/10/auburn-football-derrick-brown-top-100-nfl/91236385007/
Why Auburn WR Jeremiah Koger Isn't Worried About Jump to SEC Football
By Griffin Barfield
Auburn Tigers on SI
In his freshman season at USF, wideout Jeremiah Koger turned plenty of heads in the Sunshine State. Now, he looks to do the same at Auburn.
The 6-foot-3, 213-pound sophomore comes to the Plains looking to replicate success from his time with the Bulls, already having chemistry with head coach Alex Golesh, offensive coordinator Joel Gordon and quarterback Byrum Brown. While those relationships help, Koger had a chip on his shoulder about what the outside media thinks about this new-look Auburn team.
While the move to the SEC for most of these players could be deemed as intimidating, he sees it as an opportunity to shine on the biggest stage.
“I mean, people would think like, ‘Yeah, that’s a concern,’” Koger said on Sunday. “But we just come in here; we’re not going to try to change anything that we’re doing. We’re just going to come in here and work every single day, and then, hopefully, we get the best outcome.”
In his first season of college football, he finished the season with 38 receptions for 597 yards and eight touchdowns, tying for first in touchdowns and second on the team in the other two statistics. While most of the room is returning pieces with experience, like Keshaun Singleton and Chas Nimrod, Koger brings a spark that he will continue to build in only his second season.
While there are expectations from the outside about where the Tigers need to be, Koger simply wants to be “the best at being myself.”
“[We’re] not really worried about the outcome,” he said, “and we’re just trying to put our best foot forward every day so that anything that can happen is the best.”
The self-belief comes from the demands that his coaching staff has of him. Koger doesn’t take it as criticism, but rather a blessing that people like Golesh and Gordon, among others, took the chance on him in the first place.
“Having coaches that believe in you is probably one of the best things because, like, the more the coaches talk to you, you know that he’s believing in you and you got to push harder for yourself,” Koger said.
It’s why the Baltimore native isn’t worried about the change in competition: he has belief both internally and externally from others. The wideout can be a “high-energy guy, making plays on the field” who will help Auburn in some of those in-conference competitions this fall.
The cornerback opposite Koger might be more skilled than those in the American Athletic Conference from last season, but the coaching staff has his back to have him not worry about who he is going up against in 2026.
“Even starting from the beginning, you've got to want it within yourself, but seeing a coach want it for you, it makes you want to go even harder because you've got people who believe in you,” he said, “and the team is actually depending on you.”
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Opposing coach dismisses first-round draft hype surrounding Auburn QB Byrum Brown
By Andrew Hughes
Fly War Eagle
One coach who wouldn't put his name to his quote claimed that, after facing Byrum Brown when the QB was at USF last year, he doesn't feel Auburn's starting signal-caller is a first-round NFL draft prospect. There was no explanation supporting the point, but the coach claimed he wasn't a hater.
The quote ESPN's Adam Rittenberg got sure read like a hater's analysis of Brown because perhaps said coach took an L to the Bulls.
"I'm not one of these Byrum Brown haters, but I'm also not one of these guys who thinks he's a first-round [NFL draft] pick, either," said a coach who faced Brown at USF. "He's all right. I'm not enamored with the guy."
Whether the coach won or lost against Brown, we don't know. Since he didn't say it with his chest and his face and name attached, we just have to assume the worst for them. Brown might've hurt some feelings.
What are the main knocks on Byrum Brown?
As Rittenberg noted, coaches are worried about the transition to facing SEC competition and his low completion percentage.
On the first note, there's enough transferring going on at every level in the modern game to safely say the lines have been blurred a bit when it comes to the competition jump from a conference like the American to a Power 4. In certain weeks, it's possible that USF was playing SEC-caliber defenders all over the field.
The second point, the incompletions, well, that's the product of a fast-paced offense. The results spoke for themselves in Tampa, but should speak even louder with a full program buy-in all year from a program with resources like the Tigers.
Alex Golesh believes Byrum Brown has only improved
It's not as though Coach Alex Golesh wouldn't call out Brown if he wasn't making progress. Golesh fully backed Brown's attitude and improvement over the past few years. Golesh, of course, has been with Brown since the second year of his collegiate career. Brown has been Golesh's QB1 for his entire head coaching career with the Bulls and now Auburn.
"He's improved every year," Golesh told Rittenberg. "He's gotten better as a passer, he's gotten better as a leader, he's gotten better with his decision-making. The next step is just to take one more step, decision-making, understanding of defenses. He understands that it happens faster [in the SEC]. We played Bama, we played Florida, we played Miami. The game just is faster.
"But he's a kid that embraces the challenge of 'Man, what's next?'"
What's next is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for Brown to revive the entire city of Auburn and the Tigers' football program. Brown powering Golesh and Joel Gordon's first offense on the Plains to consistency and perhaps even a winning record would surely give him first-round consideration in the 2027 NFL draft's first round.
The comeback story for one of football's most tradition-rich staples would make Brown a star in the pre-draft process, especially since he will have done it behind a rebuilt offensive line that projects to be a weak spot heading into the season.
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Kodi Burns pushes back on concerns about Auburn's new WR corps
By Mary Kate Hughes
Fly War Eagle
With the Auburn Tigers' recent coaching change, there has been a lot of attention paid to changes on the roster. While new head coach Alex Golesh and his staff brought in a lot of strong additions through the transfer portal, including quarteback Byrum Brown, there were also quite a few quality players that elected to leave the Plains.
One of the most talented players who chose to enter the transfer portal was wide receiver Cam Coleman, who was one of the Tigers' most highly-ranked wide receiver recruits in program history. Several other wide receivers left Auburn, too, and they were mostly replaced by receivers who previously played for Golesh and with Brown at USF.
Naturally, many have wondered if Auburn's wide receiver group will take a step down in quality this season despite the fact that they weren't necessarily an extremely successful position group last season. According to wide receivers coach and former Auburn Tiger himself Kodi Burns, concerns that the wide receivers can't kick it in the SEC are being made into something more.
"If you do look at the schedule from our team last year, we did play SEC teams and it worked out pretty good," Burns said, per Yahoo Sports. "So, those guys do have experience from that standpoint."
Burns is, of course, referring to the Bulls' 18-16 victory over Florida last season. Florida did go on to fire their coach halfway through the season, but a win over an SEC team is a win over an SEC team. The Bulls logged 263 passing yards in that matchup, and Keshaun Singleton, a USF transfer who now plays for Auburn, led the Bulls in receiving yards in that game with 75.
Burns has also pointed to Chas Nimrod, another USF transfer, as a standout receiver throughout the offseason. Nimrod also adds a bit of SEC experience, having begun his collegiate career at Tennessee before transferring to USF.
"These guys have experience, and at the end of the day man, go out there and play ball," Burns said. "We ain't scared of nobody. We're about to roll up and play ball."
At the end of the day, the Auburn offense that Golesh and offensive coordinator Joel Gordon want to run on the Plains doesn't require a superstar wide receiver corps. They are focused on running the ball, and they have a stellar group of running backs alongside a mobile quarterback to execute that plan. If the wide receivers can prove themselves capable enough to catch the ball at critical moments, that should be enough to quiet the talks about the move up to the SEC.
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Auburn Co-OC Kodi Burns Issues Challenge to Top Tiger Receiver: ‘Be a Guy’
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
The Auburn Tigers are, admittedly, quite devoid of star power at the receiver position, especially compared to last season, but new Tigers co-offensive coordinator Kodi Burns is still quite confident in the group he and new Tigers head coach Alex Golesh brought over from USF.
One key piece of this group, which includes five different notable 2025 USF wide receivers, is Jeremiah Koger, the Bulls’ second-leading receiver last season, only behind Keshaun Singleton. Koger hauled in 38 passes for nearly 600 yards and tied for a team-high in touchdowns with eight, and Burns is ready to see him make the transition to the SEC.
“Jeremiah’s a fantastic player,” Burns said. “I challenge him because he is talented. He’s done it already, at a different school, and proven himself as the type of player he is. My challenge to him is he’s gotta grow. From spring until summer, up until now, he’s gotta continue to grow and get better.”
Koger, unlike the senior Singleton, is a junior, so he will have two years of eligibility to offer the Tigers at a minimum, provided he does not enter into the NFL Draft at the conclusion of this season, though it would certainly take an incredible season for Koger to reasonably have a shot in the draft at this young age.
In an effort to help that fantasy be a reality, as well as for Koger to have a top-level season in general, Burns issued yet another challenge to Koger, whom he has worked with for a few seasons now.
“He’s 6’4”, big frame, can run, really good ball skills, and the challenge for him is not to just be one of the guys, like, be a guy,” Burns said. “So I challenge on a day-to-day basis, and he’s responded really well. I’m telling you, Byrum really likes where he’s at now.”
As mentioned, the Tigers are now without the star power of players like Eric Singleton, Cam Coleman or even players like Malcolm Simmons and Perry Thompson, so target distribution will reign supreme in their game this year. However, Burns clearly still wants one receiver to stand out as much as possible over the next few seasons, and he has pegged Koger as his developmental target.
Koger has already proven that he is a strong, capable receiver, but if he can truly come into his own this season and ‘be a guy,’ as Burns puts it, the Tigers may find that they are not, in fact, lacking star power in their 2026 campaign.
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On the Plains with Cody Sigler: From D-II to the SEC
By Patrick Meadows
Cody Sigler’s journey to Auburn was anything but conventional. The defensive lineman climbed from Division II all the way to the SEC through hard work and perseverance.
A smalltown guy, Sigler grew up in New Hope, Alabama, about 19 miles southeast of Huntsville and had a successful prep career with New Hope High school, earning All-Region recognition and being named Linebacker of the Year as a senior.
Despite that success, Sigler had only one offer, from D-III Huntingdon College in Montgomery. But after a change of heart, he reached out to coach Larry Scott III, the defensive line coach at West Alabama at the time.
“I sent Coach Scott a message on Twitter and said, ‘Coach, if you give me a chance to walk on and the bill is not $21,000, I'm there,’” said Sigler. “Coach Scott responded back to me and two days later, I walked on at West Alabama.”
Sigler’s first season at West Alabama did not go as he had planned. It was marked by a series of setbacks.
“My first year, I medically redshirted,” Sigler said. “I had a medical withdrawal from school. I got a concussion. I got COVID. I had the flu and then I had to get my tonsils taken out. During that time, I didn't know if I was going to play football. I didn't know what I was going to do.”
When his football career seemed uncertain, things began to look up when he received a phone call from Coach Scott.
“Coach Scott called me and asked, ‘Are you coming down here in the spring? We want you.’ My mom was telling me to just go,” Sigler said. “I had nothing else to do. I didn’t have a job. My mom paid for it all. It was like $5,000 to go to school there and that was the best $5,000 my mom ever spent on me in my entire life. That changed my whole life.”
That next season, Sigler knew he would have to fight for a spot. Competing against older players from the COVID era, Sigler was a young player who had to find his place.
“My first true season was when all the COVID players were still around,” Sigler said. “We had guys on their sixth or seventh year. One of them was 26, another one was 24. I was a kid out there fighting for a spot and I found one. I had a little package on third down and then my sophomore year is when I really became the football player I knew I could be.”
Sigler continued to improve while he was at West Alabama and then looked to further his football career with another school following a successful 2024 season where he started all 11 games and was named first team All-Gulf South Conference.
“I got the starting job as a junior and I had the year I wanted to and then I got in the portal,” Sigler said. “I went to South Florida on a visit, then went to Arkansas State. I ended up going to Arkansas State due to proximity to home and I had a great year there. It was a place of opportunity.”
Siger was named second team All-Sun Belt after a year with the Red Wolves and that taste of success in Division I led to another opportunity for change. He entered the transfer portal to make his way to the Plains. Auburn’s coaching staff was what tipped the scale in his decision.
“First of all, I would say the coaches,” Sigler said on why Auburn. “Coach Scott, our assistant defensive line coach here at Auburn, is the same defensive line coach when I was at West Alabama. He is the one who gave me an opportunity to start playing football again. Also, when I visited South Florida the previous year, I loved the coaching style. I loved Coach (Alex) Golesh.”
Now finally on the Plains, Sigler looks to his final collegiate season and hopes to play a big role in laying a new foundation at Auburn.
“I want to come in and not just be the most dominant in the country, but I also want to come in and help the younger guys be able to grow and be able to get a chance whenever it's their turn,” Sigler said. “There's no drop off or anything. I feel like that's how it's been ever since I got here. Every day is competing no matter who it is. I also just want to be the guy that, whenever, stuff's going south, I want to be able to go in there and get this team back to where it needs to be.”
With the opportunity to compete in the Southeastern Conference, he is eager to be part of the unmatched atmosphere and energy of gamedays.
“I’m excited for Jordan-Hare,” Sigler said “My first time running out there, I'm going to be blown away. I came to a game my freshman year and it was wild. It was against Texas A&M. The stadium was rocking. The environment was insane.
“But also, I’m excited to hit the dude in front of me. That's my biggest thing. I came here to dominate.”
Beyond football, Sigler credits his faith as a driving force for his journey and success.
“God is the reason why I'm here,” Sigler said. “My story has been fully designed by Him. When I first got here, I was kind of distancing myself from Him. I wasn't praying every night like I needed to. I needed to get back to Him. I'm really starting to see that, and I feel like this whole team bought in on that aspect of it. A team that's driven by God is a hard team to be beat.”
Sigler hopes to leave a lasting impact on Auburn and be remembered for how he played every down.
“A dude who went out there and dominated every snap,” Sigler said.
At the end of the season, he will set his eyes on the NFL Draft. But after his time playing football, he hopes to give back to the next generation of athletes.
“I hope to play in the league as long as I can,” Sigler said. “I also want to go coach and be able to help impact kids' lives, like all my old coaches did for me.”
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Cody Sigler seen as the top returning defensive tackle by PFF
By Jac Myrick
Auburn Wire
Pro Football Focus College grades Auburn football senior defensive tackle Cody Sigler the highest of returning SEC defensive tackles.
Sigler received a grade of 85.7 from PFF College, with the top-five seen being Kentucky's Tavion Gadson (80.4), Missouri's Marquis Gracial (80.4), Ole Miss Will Echoles (79.3), and Oklahoma's Bishop Thomas (76.6).
The Tigers brought in Sigler through the transfer portal this offseason from Arkansas State, where he played and started in 11 games for the Red Wolves. He recorded 35 total tackles, 17 solo tackles, seven tackles for loss, six pass deflections and five sacks.
Prior to Arkansas State, the New Hope, Alabama native played three seasons at West Alabama. His last season there was a standout year, where he had 37 total tackles, six sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and two pass deflections.
His journey has led him to the Plains. Sigler was seen as one of the best transfers for Auburn with a rating from 247 Sports of 92. He ranked the No. 15 best at his position in the portal class.
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Auburn's Rayshawn Pleasant included in Hornung Award watchlist
By Taylor Jones
Auburn Wire
Another week has begun, which brings the reveal of another watchlist for postseason awards.
Monday, the Paul Hornung Award revealed its initial watchlist for the 2026 season, which included Auburn defensive back and return specialist Rayshawn Pleasant. The Hornung Award is awarded annually to the most versatile player in college football.
The SEC has the most representatives on the Hornung Award Watchlist with 10, more than the Big 10 (5), ACC (6), and Big 12 (6). Pleasant joins South Carolina's Vicari Swain, Oklahoma's Isaiah Sategna, and Florida's Jaden Baugh as SEC representatives on the watchlist.
Pleasant showcased his versatility at Tulane during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, making him an attractive piece in the transfer portal ahead of the 2025 season. He ultimately signed with Auburn and lived up to the hype as a defensive back and returner by logging 16 tackles and a career-high two interceptions in Auburn's win over Arkansas, one being a pick-six. He added two more touchdowns to his list as a returner, one being a 98-yard kickoff return in Auburn's season-opening win at Baylor.
Pleasant will look to boost his numbers as a senior for Auburn and possibly end the season as Auburn's first Paul Hornung Award winner.
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CFP analyst predicts hot start, bowl bid for Auburn football in 2026
By Taylor Jones
Auburn Wire
Auburn football fans have high hopes for their team this season as the Alex Golesh era gets underway. One of those hopes is to see its team qualify for a bowl game for the first time in three seasons.
Will that dream become a reality? One analyst believes Auburn fans will have plenty to smile about once the season concludes.
On3's JD PicKell recently examined Auburn's 2026 slate and predicted the team's win-loss record. He predicts Auburn will finish the season with a 7-5 record and will earn its first bowl bid since the 2023 season, when it faced Maryland in the Music City Bowl.
PicKell believes the Alex Golesh era will get off to a hot start with Auburn winning its first four games over Baylor, Southern Miss, Florida, and Vanderbilt, before dropping its first game on the road at Tennessee in Golesh's first game back in Knoxville since leading the Volunteers' offense during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. PicKell also expects the Tigers to lose their next game, a road contest at Georgia.
The Tigers will bounce back in Week 8 against LSU, says PicKell, which would be a signature win for Golesh in his first season in front of the home crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn is then predicted to lose two of its next three games, which features road games against Ole Miss and Mississippi State, and a home date with Arkansas. To close the season, PicKell predicts Auburn to beat Samford and lose to Alabama on the road, bringing Auburn's record to 7-5.
PicKell's predictions draw little controversy, as he forecasts Auburn to win games against teams seen as equal or inferior, and to lose games against College Football Playoff contenders. Three notable games that could go either way are in Week 3 against Florida, Week 8 against LSU, and Week 11 at Mississippi State.
PicKell predicts Golesh's Tigers to get the best of fellow first-year head coaches Jon Summral (Florida) and Lane Kiffin (LSU). However, Auburn will need to be on the lookout for an upset in Starkville. Mississippi State is hoping its identity under Jeff Lebby is established by Week 11 and that the Bulldogs can take down an Auburn team, predicted to be 6-3 entering the game, in front of the cowbells at Davis Wade Stadium.
If PicKell's predictions become true, it will mean a strong start for the Tigers and a bowl bid in Golesh's first season as head coach. More importantly, it means Auburn erases a streak of losing seven games in four straight seasons.
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2026 Opponent Breakdown: Game 4 vs. Vanderbilt
By Jason Caldwell
Auburn 247
2025 results: 10-3 (6-2 SEC)
Charleston Southern 45-3
Virginia Tech 44-20
@ South Carolina 31-7
Georgia State 70-21
Utah State 55-35
@ Alabama 14-30
LSU 31-24
Missouri 17-10
@ Texas 31-34
Auburn 45-38 (OT)
Kentucky 45-17
@ Tennessee 45-24
Iowa 27-34
2026 schedule:
Sept. 5, Austin Peay
Sept. 12, Delaware
Sept. 19, NC State
Sept. 26, @ Auburn
Oct. 3, @ Georgia
Oct. 10, Ole Miss
Oct. 17, Arkansas
Oct. 24, @ Kentucky
Nov. 7, @ Miss. State
Nov. 14, Alabama
Nov. 21, @ Florida
Nov. 28, Tennessee
Unless something changes (and it could in this world), Auburn won't have to see Diego Pavia again this season and that's very good news for the Tigers after losing to him three straight seasons at New Mexico State and then at Vanderbilt. That also means a very different season ahead for Clark Lea and the Commodores, who have been the beneficiary of having a game-changing quarterback to lean on the past two seasons.
Offense
Life without Diego begins for Vanderbilt and that's going to be a tough act to follow. Last season he threw for 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns with 8 interceptions while adding 862 yards on the ground and 10 more touchdowns. That's a ton of production that has to be replaced for the Commodores in 2026.
The good news for Vanderbilt is they were able to lure away 5-star quarterback Jared Curtis from Georgia and the true freshman is going to be tough to keep off the field this fall. He's an elite talent and gives you some Bo Nix vibes on the field with his play. He'll have to beat out former NM State transfer Blake Berlowitz, who got some action last season.
At running back, veteran Sedrick Alexander returns after rushing for 567 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. In his three seasons at Vanderbilt, Alexander has more than 1,500 yards on the ground and 24 rushing touchdowns. Also returning is former NM State transfer Makhilyn Young. He had 46 carries for more than 400 yards and 6 touchdowns last season. The Commodores also have a pair of freshmen that could make noise in Evan Hampton and Izayah Lee.
Outside, Vanderbilt has to replace big-play receiver Tre Richardson (transferred to Louisville) and tight end Eli Stowers from last season. All they did was combine for 108 receptions, more than 1,500 yards and 11 touchdowns. Back is Junior Sherrill, who had 54 catches last year for 784 yards and 7 touchdowns. A guy to watch is Old Dominion transfer Ja'Cory Thomas, who had 41 receptions for over 700 yards last season. He'll have a chance to step into a big role for the Commodores. The same with tight end Cole Spence, who has 25 career catches for 334 yards. They added East Carolina transfer Jayvontay Conner, who was at one-time at Opelika High School.
Up front, returning starter Cade McConnell is back and the Commodores added talented North Dakota state transfer Beau Johnson to likely play one of the tackle spots. At center, former Pitt and NC State transfer Lyndon Cooper is likely the guy with Alabama transfer Micah DeBose in the mix to start at guard after making the move over.
Defense
The Commodores are looking to continue the growth on that side of the ball after allowing 22.85 points per game last season. With an offense that averaged nearly 40 per game, that was enough on most days but they allowed 30 or more points in 5 games in 2025. Because of their offense they won two of those games, but that's tough to count on.
Everything starts with what should be a stronger edge group led by returner Miles Capers. Last season he led the team with 4.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for a loss. Also back is linebacker Nick Rinaldi, who had 3.5 sacks and 7.0 tackles for a loss. Adding Iowa transfer Brian Allen and LSU transfer CJ Jackson gives Vanderbilt more potential firepower.
In the middle, 6-3, 340 Glenn Seabrooks III returns as a starter after making 19 tackles a season ago and plugging the middle of the Vanderbilt defense. SEMO second-year transfer Jaylon Stone is a player the Commodores are expecting to take a jump in his second season in Nashville. He played in all 13 games last year and finished with 22 tackles.
On the back end, cornerback Martel Hight is one of the best players in the league. Last season he had 4 interceptions and in three years with the Commodores he has more than 100 tackles and 7 total picks.
Schedule
Vanderbilt gets to ease into the season with Austin Peay and Delaware at home the first two weeks before NC State comes to town on Sept. 19. That will be an interesting game with many people thinking the Wolfpack should be better in 2026.
Auburn is up next with the game at Jordan-Hare Stadium before a trip to Athens to face Georgia and a home game against Ole Miss the following week. The season for the Commodores may just hinge on those three games in the middle of the schedule because they have Arkansas, Kentucky and Miss. State the next three weeks before finishing with Alabama, at Florida, and then Tennessee at home to finish the season.
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Two former Auburn coordinators headline potential Mike Norvell replacement options for FSU
By Andrew Hughes
Fly War Eagle
Two former Auburn offensive coordinators, ex-play-caller Rhett Lashlee and ex-QB coach Kenny Dillingham, were tabbed as the top two potential Mike Norvell replacements at FSU if the Noles fire their head coach at any point over the next few months.
Chop Chat's Josh Yourish believes there are varying degrees of probability when it comes to prying Lashlee away from Dallas and Dillingham away from the desert.
"This is a situation where Florida State may not be able to pry Lashlee away from SMU. He’s tapped into a deep-pocketed donor base and has that program rocking for the first time since it suffered the death penalty. Would the former Miami OC leave to coach Florida State, which has been lagging behind in the NIL era and has not been nearly as competitive in the ACC as SMU for the past two seasons? It’s at least worth making the call," Yourish wrote.
"Kenny Dillingham turned down Michigan to stay at Arizona State this offseason. It appears to have been a decision he made with his family in mind, wanting to stay put at his alma mater. However, he has experience at Florida State, coaching under Norvell in 2020-21, and has spent the offseason begging for money to keep the program in College Football Playoff contention."
Rhett Lashlee is almost certainly not leaving SMU for FSU
Yourish is 100% correct. A call is worth it for Lashlee, but it isn't going to get very far. The Mustangs are well-equipped to win in the ACC and have already won plenty in just two years. SMU is a contender again during the 2026 season, or at least expected to be.
There was enough money to take no media rights money from the conference for seven years. There's been enough money to bring in talent to University Park to compete in the third-most competitive conference in the country. They probably haven't scratched the surface in what the Mustangs could achieve in the NIL realm, either. Whenever the time is right, SMU could splurge on local talents in the DFW and still end up saving on recruiting travel costs.
Why would Lashlee leave that for Tallanasty, where there is a major revenue gap between the Noles and the Power 2 conferences because of heavy debt? Especially when Norvell's buyout total would be thrown onto that tab?
Lashlee takes FSU's call, entertains it for a few minutes, then politely declines.
Kenny Dillingham answers FSU's call, but still may not want out at ASU
Dillingham is in a good, though not great, place financially in Tempe. He's commented about the lack of funds to build his Sun Devils roster after the 2024/2025 CFP, but his tone changed this past November. Dillingham seems to be all in on Arizona State's infrastructure now, though he's still challenged boosters to step up for his team.
Would he leave that for a return to Florida State? Dillingham has already built something with his Sun Devils program and may have an easier path to the CFP in the Big 12 than he would in the ACC. Recruiting-wise, Dillingham has in-state competition from Arizona and deals with out-of-state competition from Big Ten schools and Texas. He'd have to trade that for fighting with Florida, Miami, and the vaunted SEC blueprint.
Things are somewhat even between the jobs, all things considered. FSU is a more prestigious landing spot, but the expectations would be suffocating after the Noles' post-2023 downfall. Dillingham is already revered where he's at, so a move to Tallahassee may not make sense for him. FSU absolutely still needs to make that call and make him tell them no, though.
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Derrick Brown included in NFL Top 100 ranking
By Taylor Jones
Auburn Wire
Derrick Brown bounced back from an injury-shortened 2024 campaign by logging 73 tackles and a career-best five sacks last season. Because of this, he enters the 2026 season with higher expectations and a place on the NFL's top 100 players ranking.
The NFL has revealed its top 100 players ranking for the 2026 season ahead of preseason action, and the former Auburn defensive lineman cracks the list for the first time in his career, checking in at No. 90. Bobby Kownack, who compiled the ranking, applauds Brown for bouncing back in a big way last season after playing in just one game during the 2024 season with the Carolina Panthers.
Brown was a man on a mission in the follow-up to his injury-shortened 2024 campaign. His five sacks marked a career high, and he frustrated quarterbacks even when he didn’t get home, tying a personal best with seven batted balls. He vacuumed up rushing attempts down the gut, too, making 32 stops to tie for second in the league among defensive tackles, per PFF. Brown’s bounce-back season was wholly deserving of his long-awaited debut on the NFL Top 100.
Outside of boasting 73 total tackles in 2025, he finished the season in the top 10 of several PFF categories, including No. 4 in solo tackles (46), No. 6 in forced fumbles (1), and No. 1 in batted passes (7). Brown enters his seventh season with the Carolina Panthers in 2026 looking to post back-to-back 70-tackle, five-sack seasons, and possibly top his 2023 tackle total, when he reached 103.
Why Auburn WR Jeremiah Koger Isn't Worried About Jump to SEC Football:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/auburn-wide-receiver-jeremiah-koger-jump-sec-football
Opposing coach dismisses first-round draft hype surrounding Auburn QB Byrum Brown:
https://flywareagle.com/opposing-coach-dismisses-first-round-draft-hype-surrounding-auburn-qb-byrum-brown
Kodi Burns pushes back on concerns about Auburn's new WR corps:
https://flywareagle.com/kodi-burns-pushes-back-concerns-about-auburn-new-wr-corps
Auburn Co-OC Kodi Burns Issues Challenge to Top Tiger Receiver: ‘Be a Guy’:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/auburn-offensive-coordinator-kodi-burns-challenges-jeremiah-koger
On the Plains with Cody Sigler: From D-II to the SEC:
https://auburntigers.com/news/2026/08/10/on-the-plains-with-cody-sigler-from-d-ii-to-the-sec
Cody Sigler seen as the top returning defensive tackle by PFF:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/football/2026/08/10/auburn-football-dl-cody-sigler-tops-pff-returning-defensive-tackles/91247939007/
Auburn's Rayshawn Pleasant included in Hornung Award watchlist:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/football/2026/08/10/auburn-football-hornung-award-watchlist-rayshawn-pleasant/91243463007/
CFP analyst predicts hot start, bowl bid for Auburn football in 2026:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/football/2026/08/10/auburn-football-schedule-prediction-2026-alex-golesh/91240279007/
2026 Opponent Breakdown: Game 4 vs. Vanderbilt:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/taking-a-look-at-the-vanderbilt-commodores-who-auburn-will-face-in-week-4-288818946/
Two former Auburn coordinators headline potential Mike Norvell replacement options for FSU:
https://flywareagle.com/two-former-auburn-coordinators-headline-potential-mike-norvell-replacement-options-fsu
Derrick Brown included in NFL Top 100 ranking:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/football/2026/08/10/auburn-football-derrick-brown-top-100-nfl/91236385007/
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By Griffin Barfield
Auburn Tigers on SI
In his freshman season at USF, wideout Jeremiah Koger turned plenty of heads in the Sunshine State. Now, he looks to do the same at Auburn.
The 6-foot-3, 213-pound sophomore comes to the Plains looking to replicate success from his time with the Bulls, already having chemistry with head coach Alex Golesh, offensive coordinator Joel Gordon and quarterback Byrum Brown. While those relationships help, Koger had a chip on his shoulder about what the outside media thinks about this new-look Auburn team.
While the move to the SEC for most of these players could be deemed as intimidating, he sees it as an opportunity to shine on the biggest stage.
“I mean, people would think like, ‘Yeah, that’s a concern,’” Koger said on Sunday. “But we just come in here; we’re not going to try to change anything that we’re doing. We’re just going to come in here and work every single day, and then, hopefully, we get the best outcome.”
In his first season of college football, he finished the season with 38 receptions for 597 yards and eight touchdowns, tying for first in touchdowns and second on the team in the other two statistics. While most of the room is returning pieces with experience, like Keshaun Singleton and Chas Nimrod, Koger brings a spark that he will continue to build in only his second season.
While there are expectations from the outside about where the Tigers need to be, Koger simply wants to be “the best at being myself.”
“[We’re] not really worried about the outcome,” he said, “and we’re just trying to put our best foot forward every day so that anything that can happen is the best.”
The self-belief comes from the demands that his coaching staff has of him. Koger doesn’t take it as criticism, but rather a blessing that people like Golesh and Gordon, among others, took the chance on him in the first place.
“Having coaches that believe in you is probably one of the best things because, like, the more the coaches talk to you, you know that he’s believing in you and you got to push harder for yourself,” Koger said.
It’s why the Baltimore native isn’t worried about the change in competition: he has belief both internally and externally from others. The wideout can be a “high-energy guy, making plays on the field” who will help Auburn in some of those in-conference competitions this fall.
The cornerback opposite Koger might be more skilled than those in the American Athletic Conference from last season, but the coaching staff has his back to have him not worry about who he is going up against in 2026.
“Even starting from the beginning, you've got to want it within yourself, but seeing a coach want it for you, it makes you want to go even harder because you've got people who believe in you,” he said, “and the team is actually depending on you.”
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Opposing coach dismisses first-round draft hype surrounding Auburn QB Byrum Brown
By Andrew Hughes
Fly War Eagle
One coach who wouldn't put his name to his quote claimed that, after facing Byrum Brown when the QB was at USF last year, he doesn't feel Auburn's starting signal-caller is a first-round NFL draft prospect. There was no explanation supporting the point, but the coach claimed he wasn't a hater.
The quote ESPN's Adam Rittenberg got sure read like a hater's analysis of Brown because perhaps said coach took an L to the Bulls.
"I'm not one of these Byrum Brown haters, but I'm also not one of these guys who thinks he's a first-round [NFL draft] pick, either," said a coach who faced Brown at USF. "He's all right. I'm not enamored with the guy."
Whether the coach won or lost against Brown, we don't know. Since he didn't say it with his chest and his face and name attached, we just have to assume the worst for them. Brown might've hurt some feelings.
What are the main knocks on Byrum Brown?
As Rittenberg noted, coaches are worried about the transition to facing SEC competition and his low completion percentage.
On the first note, there's enough transferring going on at every level in the modern game to safely say the lines have been blurred a bit when it comes to the competition jump from a conference like the American to a Power 4. In certain weeks, it's possible that USF was playing SEC-caliber defenders all over the field.
The second point, the incompletions, well, that's the product of a fast-paced offense. The results spoke for themselves in Tampa, but should speak even louder with a full program buy-in all year from a program with resources like the Tigers.
Alex Golesh believes Byrum Brown has only improved
It's not as though Coach Alex Golesh wouldn't call out Brown if he wasn't making progress. Golesh fully backed Brown's attitude and improvement over the past few years. Golesh, of course, has been with Brown since the second year of his collegiate career. Brown has been Golesh's QB1 for his entire head coaching career with the Bulls and now Auburn.
"He's improved every year," Golesh told Rittenberg. "He's gotten better as a passer, he's gotten better as a leader, he's gotten better with his decision-making. The next step is just to take one more step, decision-making, understanding of defenses. He understands that it happens faster [in the SEC]. We played Bama, we played Florida, we played Miami. The game just is faster.
"But he's a kid that embraces the challenge of 'Man, what's next?'"
What's next is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for Brown to revive the entire city of Auburn and the Tigers' football program. Brown powering Golesh and Joel Gordon's first offense on the Plains to consistency and perhaps even a winning record would surely give him first-round consideration in the 2027 NFL draft's first round.
The comeback story for one of football's most tradition-rich staples would make Brown a star in the pre-draft process, especially since he will have done it behind a rebuilt offensive line that projects to be a weak spot heading into the season.
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Kodi Burns pushes back on concerns about Auburn's new WR corps
By Mary Kate Hughes
Fly War Eagle
With the Auburn Tigers' recent coaching change, there has been a lot of attention paid to changes on the roster. While new head coach Alex Golesh and his staff brought in a lot of strong additions through the transfer portal, including quarteback Byrum Brown, there were also quite a few quality players that elected to leave the Plains.
One of the most talented players who chose to enter the transfer portal was wide receiver Cam Coleman, who was one of the Tigers' most highly-ranked wide receiver recruits in program history. Several other wide receivers left Auburn, too, and they were mostly replaced by receivers who previously played for Golesh and with Brown at USF.
Naturally, many have wondered if Auburn's wide receiver group will take a step down in quality this season despite the fact that they weren't necessarily an extremely successful position group last season. According to wide receivers coach and former Auburn Tiger himself Kodi Burns, concerns that the wide receivers can't kick it in the SEC are being made into something more.
"If you do look at the schedule from our team last year, we did play SEC teams and it worked out pretty good," Burns said, per Yahoo Sports. "So, those guys do have experience from that standpoint."
Burns is, of course, referring to the Bulls' 18-16 victory over Florida last season. Florida did go on to fire their coach halfway through the season, but a win over an SEC team is a win over an SEC team. The Bulls logged 263 passing yards in that matchup, and Keshaun Singleton, a USF transfer who now plays for Auburn, led the Bulls in receiving yards in that game with 75.
Burns has also pointed to Chas Nimrod, another USF transfer, as a standout receiver throughout the offseason. Nimrod also adds a bit of SEC experience, having begun his collegiate career at Tennessee before transferring to USF.
"These guys have experience, and at the end of the day man, go out there and play ball," Burns said. "We ain't scared of nobody. We're about to roll up and play ball."
At the end of the day, the Auburn offense that Golesh and offensive coordinator Joel Gordon want to run on the Plains doesn't require a superstar wide receiver corps. They are focused on running the ball, and they have a stellar group of running backs alongside a mobile quarterback to execute that plan. If the wide receivers can prove themselves capable enough to catch the ball at critical moments, that should be enough to quiet the talks about the move up to the SEC.
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Auburn Co-OC Kodi Burns Issues Challenge to Top Tiger Receiver: ‘Be a Guy’
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
The Auburn Tigers are, admittedly, quite devoid of star power at the receiver position, especially compared to last season, but new Tigers co-offensive coordinator Kodi Burns is still quite confident in the group he and new Tigers head coach Alex Golesh brought over from USF.
One key piece of this group, which includes five different notable 2025 USF wide receivers, is Jeremiah Koger, the Bulls’ second-leading receiver last season, only behind Keshaun Singleton. Koger hauled in 38 passes for nearly 600 yards and tied for a team-high in touchdowns with eight, and Burns is ready to see him make the transition to the SEC.
“Jeremiah’s a fantastic player,” Burns said. “I challenge him because he is talented. He’s done it already, at a different school, and proven himself as the type of player he is. My challenge to him is he’s gotta grow. From spring until summer, up until now, he’s gotta continue to grow and get better.”
Koger, unlike the senior Singleton, is a junior, so he will have two years of eligibility to offer the Tigers at a minimum, provided he does not enter into the NFL Draft at the conclusion of this season, though it would certainly take an incredible season for Koger to reasonably have a shot in the draft at this young age.
In an effort to help that fantasy be a reality, as well as for Koger to have a top-level season in general, Burns issued yet another challenge to Koger, whom he has worked with for a few seasons now.
“He’s 6’4”, big frame, can run, really good ball skills, and the challenge for him is not to just be one of the guys, like, be a guy,” Burns said. “So I challenge on a day-to-day basis, and he’s responded really well. I’m telling you, Byrum really likes where he’s at now.”
As mentioned, the Tigers are now without the star power of players like Eric Singleton, Cam Coleman or even players like Malcolm Simmons and Perry Thompson, so target distribution will reign supreme in their game this year. However, Burns clearly still wants one receiver to stand out as much as possible over the next few seasons, and he has pegged Koger as his developmental target.
Koger has already proven that he is a strong, capable receiver, but if he can truly come into his own this season and ‘be a guy,’ as Burns puts it, the Tigers may find that they are not, in fact, lacking star power in their 2026 campaign.
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On the Plains with Cody Sigler: From D-II to the SEC
By Patrick Meadows
Cody Sigler’s journey to Auburn was anything but conventional. The defensive lineman climbed from Division II all the way to the SEC through hard work and perseverance.
A smalltown guy, Sigler grew up in New Hope, Alabama, about 19 miles southeast of Huntsville and had a successful prep career with New Hope High school, earning All-Region recognition and being named Linebacker of the Year as a senior.
Despite that success, Sigler had only one offer, from D-III Huntingdon College in Montgomery. But after a change of heart, he reached out to coach Larry Scott III, the defensive line coach at West Alabama at the time.
“I sent Coach Scott a message on Twitter and said, ‘Coach, if you give me a chance to walk on and the bill is not $21,000, I'm there,’” said Sigler. “Coach Scott responded back to me and two days later, I walked on at West Alabama.”
Sigler’s first season at West Alabama did not go as he had planned. It was marked by a series of setbacks.
“My first year, I medically redshirted,” Sigler said. “I had a medical withdrawal from school. I got a concussion. I got COVID. I had the flu and then I had to get my tonsils taken out. During that time, I didn't know if I was going to play football. I didn't know what I was going to do.”
When his football career seemed uncertain, things began to look up when he received a phone call from Coach Scott.
“Coach Scott called me and asked, ‘Are you coming down here in the spring? We want you.’ My mom was telling me to just go,” Sigler said. “I had nothing else to do. I didn’t have a job. My mom paid for it all. It was like $5,000 to go to school there and that was the best $5,000 my mom ever spent on me in my entire life. That changed my whole life.”
That next season, Sigler knew he would have to fight for a spot. Competing against older players from the COVID era, Sigler was a young player who had to find his place.
“My first true season was when all the COVID players were still around,” Sigler said. “We had guys on their sixth or seventh year. One of them was 26, another one was 24. I was a kid out there fighting for a spot and I found one. I had a little package on third down and then my sophomore year is when I really became the football player I knew I could be.”
Sigler continued to improve while he was at West Alabama and then looked to further his football career with another school following a successful 2024 season where he started all 11 games and was named first team All-Gulf South Conference.
“I got the starting job as a junior and I had the year I wanted to and then I got in the portal,” Sigler said. “I went to South Florida on a visit, then went to Arkansas State. I ended up going to Arkansas State due to proximity to home and I had a great year there. It was a place of opportunity.”
Siger was named second team All-Sun Belt after a year with the Red Wolves and that taste of success in Division I led to another opportunity for change. He entered the transfer portal to make his way to the Plains. Auburn’s coaching staff was what tipped the scale in his decision.
“First of all, I would say the coaches,” Sigler said on why Auburn. “Coach Scott, our assistant defensive line coach here at Auburn, is the same defensive line coach when I was at West Alabama. He is the one who gave me an opportunity to start playing football again. Also, when I visited South Florida the previous year, I loved the coaching style. I loved Coach (Alex) Golesh.”
Now finally on the Plains, Sigler looks to his final collegiate season and hopes to play a big role in laying a new foundation at Auburn.
“I want to come in and not just be the most dominant in the country, but I also want to come in and help the younger guys be able to grow and be able to get a chance whenever it's their turn,” Sigler said. “There's no drop off or anything. I feel like that's how it's been ever since I got here. Every day is competing no matter who it is. I also just want to be the guy that, whenever, stuff's going south, I want to be able to go in there and get this team back to where it needs to be.”
With the opportunity to compete in the Southeastern Conference, he is eager to be part of the unmatched atmosphere and energy of gamedays.
“I’m excited for Jordan-Hare,” Sigler said “My first time running out there, I'm going to be blown away. I came to a game my freshman year and it was wild. It was against Texas A&M. The stadium was rocking. The environment was insane.
“But also, I’m excited to hit the dude in front of me. That's my biggest thing. I came here to dominate.”
Beyond football, Sigler credits his faith as a driving force for his journey and success.
“God is the reason why I'm here,” Sigler said. “My story has been fully designed by Him. When I first got here, I was kind of distancing myself from Him. I wasn't praying every night like I needed to. I needed to get back to Him. I'm really starting to see that, and I feel like this whole team bought in on that aspect of it. A team that's driven by God is a hard team to be beat.”
Sigler hopes to leave a lasting impact on Auburn and be remembered for how he played every down.
“A dude who went out there and dominated every snap,” Sigler said.
At the end of the season, he will set his eyes on the NFL Draft. But after his time playing football, he hopes to give back to the next generation of athletes.
“I hope to play in the league as long as I can,” Sigler said. “I also want to go coach and be able to help impact kids' lives, like all my old coaches did for me.”
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Cody Sigler seen as the top returning defensive tackle by PFF
By Jac Myrick
Auburn Wire
Pro Football Focus College grades Auburn football senior defensive tackle Cody Sigler the highest of returning SEC defensive tackles.
Sigler received a grade of 85.7 from PFF College, with the top-five seen being Kentucky's Tavion Gadson (80.4), Missouri's Marquis Gracial (80.4), Ole Miss Will Echoles (79.3), and Oklahoma's Bishop Thomas (76.6).
The Tigers brought in Sigler through the transfer portal this offseason from Arkansas State, where he played and started in 11 games for the Red Wolves. He recorded 35 total tackles, 17 solo tackles, seven tackles for loss, six pass deflections and five sacks.
Prior to Arkansas State, the New Hope, Alabama native played three seasons at West Alabama. His last season there was a standout year, where he had 37 total tackles, six sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and two pass deflections.
His journey has led him to the Plains. Sigler was seen as one of the best transfers for Auburn with a rating from 247 Sports of 92. He ranked the No. 15 best at his position in the portal class.
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Auburn's Rayshawn Pleasant included in Hornung Award watchlist
By Taylor Jones
Auburn Wire
Another week has begun, which brings the reveal of another watchlist for postseason awards.
Monday, the Paul Hornung Award revealed its initial watchlist for the 2026 season, which included Auburn defensive back and return specialist Rayshawn Pleasant. The Hornung Award is awarded annually to the most versatile player in college football.
The SEC has the most representatives on the Hornung Award Watchlist with 10, more than the Big 10 (5), ACC (6), and Big 12 (6). Pleasant joins South Carolina's Vicari Swain, Oklahoma's Isaiah Sategna, and Florida's Jaden Baugh as SEC representatives on the watchlist.
Pleasant showcased his versatility at Tulane during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, making him an attractive piece in the transfer portal ahead of the 2025 season. He ultimately signed with Auburn and lived up to the hype as a defensive back and returner by logging 16 tackles and a career-high two interceptions in Auburn's win over Arkansas, one being a pick-six. He added two more touchdowns to his list as a returner, one being a 98-yard kickoff return in Auburn's season-opening win at Baylor.
Pleasant will look to boost his numbers as a senior for Auburn and possibly end the season as Auburn's first Paul Hornung Award winner.
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CFP analyst predicts hot start, bowl bid for Auburn football in 2026
By Taylor Jones
Auburn Wire
Auburn football fans have high hopes for their team this season as the Alex Golesh era gets underway. One of those hopes is to see its team qualify for a bowl game for the first time in three seasons.
Will that dream become a reality? One analyst believes Auburn fans will have plenty to smile about once the season concludes.
On3's JD PicKell recently examined Auburn's 2026 slate and predicted the team's win-loss record. He predicts Auburn will finish the season with a 7-5 record and will earn its first bowl bid since the 2023 season, when it faced Maryland in the Music City Bowl.
PicKell believes the Alex Golesh era will get off to a hot start with Auburn winning its first four games over Baylor, Southern Miss, Florida, and Vanderbilt, before dropping its first game on the road at Tennessee in Golesh's first game back in Knoxville since leading the Volunteers' offense during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. PicKell also expects the Tigers to lose their next game, a road contest at Georgia.
The Tigers will bounce back in Week 8 against LSU, says PicKell, which would be a signature win for Golesh in his first season in front of the home crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn is then predicted to lose two of its next three games, which features road games against Ole Miss and Mississippi State, and a home date with Arkansas. To close the season, PicKell predicts Auburn to beat Samford and lose to Alabama on the road, bringing Auburn's record to 7-5.
PicKell's predictions draw little controversy, as he forecasts Auburn to win games against teams seen as equal or inferior, and to lose games against College Football Playoff contenders. Three notable games that could go either way are in Week 3 against Florida, Week 8 against LSU, and Week 11 at Mississippi State.
PicKell predicts Golesh's Tigers to get the best of fellow first-year head coaches Jon Summral (Florida) and Lane Kiffin (LSU). However, Auburn will need to be on the lookout for an upset in Starkville. Mississippi State is hoping its identity under Jeff Lebby is established by Week 11 and that the Bulldogs can take down an Auburn team, predicted to be 6-3 entering the game, in front of the cowbells at Davis Wade Stadium.
If PicKell's predictions become true, it will mean a strong start for the Tigers and a bowl bid in Golesh's first season as head coach. More importantly, it means Auburn erases a streak of losing seven games in four straight seasons.
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2026 Opponent Breakdown: Game 4 vs. Vanderbilt
By Jason Caldwell
Auburn 247
2025 results: 10-3 (6-2 SEC)
Charleston Southern 45-3
Virginia Tech 44-20
@ South Carolina 31-7
Georgia State 70-21
Utah State 55-35
@ Alabama 14-30
LSU 31-24
Missouri 17-10
@ Texas 31-34
Auburn 45-38 (OT)
Kentucky 45-17
@ Tennessee 45-24
Iowa 27-34
2026 schedule:
Sept. 5, Austin Peay
Sept. 12, Delaware
Sept. 19, NC State
Sept. 26, @ Auburn
Oct. 3, @ Georgia
Oct. 10, Ole Miss
Oct. 17, Arkansas
Oct. 24, @ Kentucky
Nov. 7, @ Miss. State
Nov. 14, Alabama
Nov. 21, @ Florida
Nov. 28, Tennessee
Unless something changes (and it could in this world), Auburn won't have to see Diego Pavia again this season and that's very good news for the Tigers after losing to him three straight seasons at New Mexico State and then at Vanderbilt. That also means a very different season ahead for Clark Lea and the Commodores, who have been the beneficiary of having a game-changing quarterback to lean on the past two seasons.
Offense
Life without Diego begins for Vanderbilt and that's going to be a tough act to follow. Last season he threw for 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns with 8 interceptions while adding 862 yards on the ground and 10 more touchdowns. That's a ton of production that has to be replaced for the Commodores in 2026.
The good news for Vanderbilt is they were able to lure away 5-star quarterback Jared Curtis from Georgia and the true freshman is going to be tough to keep off the field this fall. He's an elite talent and gives you some Bo Nix vibes on the field with his play. He'll have to beat out former NM State transfer Blake Berlowitz, who got some action last season.
At running back, veteran Sedrick Alexander returns after rushing for 567 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. In his three seasons at Vanderbilt, Alexander has more than 1,500 yards on the ground and 24 rushing touchdowns. Also returning is former NM State transfer Makhilyn Young. He had 46 carries for more than 400 yards and 6 touchdowns last season. The Commodores also have a pair of freshmen that could make noise in Evan Hampton and Izayah Lee.
Outside, Vanderbilt has to replace big-play receiver Tre Richardson (transferred to Louisville) and tight end Eli Stowers from last season. All they did was combine for 108 receptions, more than 1,500 yards and 11 touchdowns. Back is Junior Sherrill, who had 54 catches last year for 784 yards and 7 touchdowns. A guy to watch is Old Dominion transfer Ja'Cory Thomas, who had 41 receptions for over 700 yards last season. He'll have a chance to step into a big role for the Commodores. The same with tight end Cole Spence, who has 25 career catches for 334 yards. They added East Carolina transfer Jayvontay Conner, who was at one-time at Opelika High School.
Up front, returning starter Cade McConnell is back and the Commodores added talented North Dakota state transfer Beau Johnson to likely play one of the tackle spots. At center, former Pitt and NC State transfer Lyndon Cooper is likely the guy with Alabama transfer Micah DeBose in the mix to start at guard after making the move over.
Defense
The Commodores are looking to continue the growth on that side of the ball after allowing 22.85 points per game last season. With an offense that averaged nearly 40 per game, that was enough on most days but they allowed 30 or more points in 5 games in 2025. Because of their offense they won two of those games, but that's tough to count on.
Everything starts with what should be a stronger edge group led by returner Miles Capers. Last season he led the team with 4.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for a loss. Also back is linebacker Nick Rinaldi, who had 3.5 sacks and 7.0 tackles for a loss. Adding Iowa transfer Brian Allen and LSU transfer CJ Jackson gives Vanderbilt more potential firepower.
In the middle, 6-3, 340 Glenn Seabrooks III returns as a starter after making 19 tackles a season ago and plugging the middle of the Vanderbilt defense. SEMO second-year transfer Jaylon Stone is a player the Commodores are expecting to take a jump in his second season in Nashville. He played in all 13 games last year and finished with 22 tackles.
On the back end, cornerback Martel Hight is one of the best players in the league. Last season he had 4 interceptions and in three years with the Commodores he has more than 100 tackles and 7 total picks.
Schedule
Vanderbilt gets to ease into the season with Austin Peay and Delaware at home the first two weeks before NC State comes to town on Sept. 19. That will be an interesting game with many people thinking the Wolfpack should be better in 2026.
Auburn is up next with the game at Jordan-Hare Stadium before a trip to Athens to face Georgia and a home game against Ole Miss the following week. The season for the Commodores may just hinge on those three games in the middle of the schedule because they have Arkansas, Kentucky and Miss. State the next three weeks before finishing with Alabama, at Florida, and then Tennessee at home to finish the season.
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Two former Auburn coordinators headline potential Mike Norvell replacement options for FSU
By Andrew Hughes
Fly War Eagle
Two former Auburn offensive coordinators, ex-play-caller Rhett Lashlee and ex-QB coach Kenny Dillingham, were tabbed as the top two potential Mike Norvell replacements at FSU if the Noles fire their head coach at any point over the next few months.
Chop Chat's Josh Yourish believes there are varying degrees of probability when it comes to prying Lashlee away from Dallas and Dillingham away from the desert.
"This is a situation where Florida State may not be able to pry Lashlee away from SMU. He’s tapped into a deep-pocketed donor base and has that program rocking for the first time since it suffered the death penalty. Would the former Miami OC leave to coach Florida State, which has been lagging behind in the NIL era and has not been nearly as competitive in the ACC as SMU for the past two seasons? It’s at least worth making the call," Yourish wrote.
"Kenny Dillingham turned down Michigan to stay at Arizona State this offseason. It appears to have been a decision he made with his family in mind, wanting to stay put at his alma mater. However, he has experience at Florida State, coaching under Norvell in 2020-21, and has spent the offseason begging for money to keep the program in College Football Playoff contention."
Rhett Lashlee is almost certainly not leaving SMU for FSU
Yourish is 100% correct. A call is worth it for Lashlee, but it isn't going to get very far. The Mustangs are well-equipped to win in the ACC and have already won plenty in just two years. SMU is a contender again during the 2026 season, or at least expected to be.
There was enough money to take no media rights money from the conference for seven years. There's been enough money to bring in talent to University Park to compete in the third-most competitive conference in the country. They probably haven't scratched the surface in what the Mustangs could achieve in the NIL realm, either. Whenever the time is right, SMU could splurge on local talents in the DFW and still end up saving on recruiting travel costs.
Why would Lashlee leave that for Tallanasty, where there is a major revenue gap between the Noles and the Power 2 conferences because of heavy debt? Especially when Norvell's buyout total would be thrown onto that tab?
Lashlee takes FSU's call, entertains it for a few minutes, then politely declines.
Kenny Dillingham answers FSU's call, but still may not want out at ASU
Dillingham is in a good, though not great, place financially in Tempe. He's commented about the lack of funds to build his Sun Devils roster after the 2024/2025 CFP, but his tone changed this past November. Dillingham seems to be all in on Arizona State's infrastructure now, though he's still challenged boosters to step up for his team.
Would he leave that for a return to Florida State? Dillingham has already built something with his Sun Devils program and may have an easier path to the CFP in the Big 12 than he would in the ACC. Recruiting-wise, Dillingham has in-state competition from Arizona and deals with out-of-state competition from Big Ten schools and Texas. He'd have to trade that for fighting with Florida, Miami, and the vaunted SEC blueprint.
Things are somewhat even between the jobs, all things considered. FSU is a more prestigious landing spot, but the expectations would be suffocating after the Noles' post-2023 downfall. Dillingham is already revered where he's at, so a move to Tallahassee may not make sense for him. FSU absolutely still needs to make that call and make him tell them no, though.
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Derrick Brown included in NFL Top 100 ranking
By Taylor Jones
Auburn Wire
Derrick Brown bounced back from an injury-shortened 2024 campaign by logging 73 tackles and a career-best five sacks last season. Because of this, he enters the 2026 season with higher expectations and a place on the NFL's top 100 players ranking.
The NFL has revealed its top 100 players ranking for the 2026 season ahead of preseason action, and the former Auburn defensive lineman cracks the list for the first time in his career, checking in at No. 90. Bobby Kownack, who compiled the ranking, applauds Brown for bouncing back in a big way last season after playing in just one game during the 2024 season with the Carolina Panthers.
Brown was a man on a mission in the follow-up to his injury-shortened 2024 campaign. His five sacks marked a career high, and he frustrated quarterbacks even when he didn’t get home, tying a personal best with seven batted balls. He vacuumed up rushing attempts down the gut, too, making 32 stops to tie for second in the league among defensive tackles, per PFF. Brown’s bounce-back season was wholly deserving of his long-awaited debut on the NFL Top 100.
Outside of boasting 73 total tackles in 2025, he finished the season in the top 10 of several PFF categories, including No. 4 in solo tackles (46), No. 6 in forced fumbles (1), and No. 1 in batted passes (7). Brown enters his seventh season with the Carolina Panthers in 2026 looking to post back-to-back 70-tackle, five-sack seasons, and possibly top his 2023 tackle total, when he reached 103.
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