Football News: 7-24-2026
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Dudley Dent
Jul 24, 2026, 7:57:03 AM (2 days ago) Jul 24
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Auburn Football News: 7-24-2026
Star LSU linebacker: Xavier Atkins was always 'going to be a problem':
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburn-tigers-football-xavier-atkins-whit-weeks-288486841/
Can Xavier Atkins' pursuit skills outweigh his size to NFL scouts?:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/football/2026/07/23/auburn-football-nfl-draft-scouting-xavier-atkins/91029176007/
Auburn's USF transfers get another crack at Florida in SEC opener — and vice versa:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburn-tigers-football-usf-florida-game-2026-schedule-288473871/
Teammates see a potential impact guy in WR Sam Turner:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/sam-turner-has-impressed-this-summer-as-the-tigers-prepare-for-the-2026-season-288473799/
How Alex Golesh plans to build a fast, explosive offense at Auburn:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/football/2026/07/23/auburn-football-sec-media-days-identity-alex-golesh/91024791007/
Alex Golesh Teases Comeback Year for Key Auburn Defender:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/alex-golesh-teases-comeback-year-for-key-auburn-defender-champ-anthony
Auburn Ranked Top-10 In Offense Among SEC Programs:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/auburn-ranked-top-10-in-offense-among-sec-programs
Three key must-win games that will shape Auburn's 2026 season and beyond:
https://flywareagle.com/three-key-must-win-games-that-will-shape-auburn-s-2026-season-and-beyond-01ky80ymnwvq
No. 1 Auburn Commit Responds to Recruiting Pushes From Top Programs:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/recruiting/no-1-auburn-commit-responds-to-recruiting-pushes-from-top-programs-myson-johnson-cook
Lane Kiffin Commends Auburn, Golesh Ahead of Return to 'Magical' Jordan-Hare:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/lane-kiffin-commends-auburn-golesh-ahead-return-magical-jordan-hare
It's become painfully obvious that Auburn never moved Cam Coleman:
https://flywareagle.com/its-become-painfully-obvious-auburn-never-moved-cam-coleman
SEC commish throws cold water on 'breakaway' notion, but league tension is high with Senate bill still up for grabs:
https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/article/sec-commissioner-greg-sankey-breakaway-leave-ncaa-league-tension-high-with-senate-bill-looming-184801784.html
By Nathan King
Auburn 247
Auburn got to know Xavier Atkins last season as the heat-seeking missile of its defense.
Whit Weeks knew him as a wide-eyed freshman in Baton Rouge.
Weeks, one year older than Atkins in LSU's linebacker room, took Atkins under his wing when he arrived in 2024 from the Houston area. And it only took a few hits in practice for Weeks to realize his teammate's athletic potential.
Atkins was the definition of a breakout player last year when he essentially came out of nowhere to become an All-American at Auburn. But Weeks was far from surprised.
"You could tell from the first time that dude stepped foot on campus that he was going to be a problem," Weeks said Thursday at SEC Media Days.
A year before Atkins had 84 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and nine sacks for Auburn's defense, he barely got on the field as a true freshman. His usage was sprinkled in over the course of seven games, and he finished with only seven tackles.
But at practice, Weeks could see the talent clear as day. The way he describes a freshman Atkins at LSU is exactly the kind of player Auburn got the following year.
"That dude just has a knack for the football," Weeks said. "It's like every single play, 'There's Xavier, there's Xavier, there's Xavier.' It does not shock me at all — the player he's turned into. I couldn't be more happy for him."
Weeks, on the other hand, popped right away as a top-100 freshman and had 49 tackles in 2023. He followed up with 125 tackles as a sophomore before dealing with an injury last year.
"The mental aspect of it, for sure," Weeks said of the biggest adjustment in going from high school to the SEC at linebacker. "And then the size. The offensive linemen you face in high school are 185 pounds, 200 pounds. Then you're going against 335-pounders every day. The physical aspect of it is hard for a freshman to come in, but even harder than that is the mental aspect."
Weeks will face his old LSU teammate when Auburn hosts Lane Kiffin's team on Oct. 24.
Atkins is the heartbeat of that Auburn defense once again — a unit that will need him to be stout, since the Tigers have to replace three NFL draft picks on the defensive front. Auburn is confident he will be.
"He's a football player," defensive back Champ Anthony said at SEC Media Days. "I know he's listed as a linebacker, but he's a real football player. I know third downs, I know what I'm getting with him. I know he's going to get that quarterback."
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Can Xavier Atkins' pursuit skills outweigh his size to NFL scouts?
By Taylor Jones
Auburn Wire
After breaking out last season, Auburn linebacker Xavier Atkins is poised to become Auburn's next high-profile NFL draft pick.
Atkins made a statement in 2025 by leading the SEC in tackles for loss (17) and finishing third in sacks (9). Not only has Atkins become a household name in college football, but he has caught the eye of NFL scouts ahead of the new season.
Dane Brugler of The Athletic recently featured Atkins in his NFL Draft Summer Scouting series, where he ranked the best draft-eligible linebackers ahead of the 2026 season. Atkins checks in at No. 3 due to his incredible ball-carrier pursuit skills, which Brugler describes as "rabid."
The best example of Atkins’ twitchy, rabid pursuit came on the Arkansas tape. Quarterback Taylen Green gave defenses trouble all season with his legs, but he managed only 14 rushing yards against Auburn — mostly because of Atkins’ spying skills. Atkins finished the game with 13 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks and one forced fumble.
In addition to providing a strength, Brugler also mentioned a weakness for each linebacker. Unfortunately for Atkins, his weakness is one he can not control.
The NFL is tight when it comes to size. For Atkins, his 6-0, 210-pound frame prevents him from being higher on NFL draft boards. Brugler hopes to see Atkins continue to play "bigger" than he is, and provides a guideline for how Atkins can entertain scouts despite his size.
Regardless of his alignment, he’s shown he can fly to the football and arrive like a ton of bricks. His NFL projection is a tad complicated due to his size and usage, but Atkins is well-liked around the league.
According to Brugler's ranking, Clemson's Sammy Brown and Georgia's Chris Cole are ahead of Atkins this preseason. Atkins will work this season to overtake Brown and Cole on the linebacker draft boards and become Auburn's second-straight first-round pick, following former Auburn EDGE Keldric Faulk, who was selected No. 31 overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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Auburn's USF transfers get another crack at Florida in SEC opener — and vice versa
By Nathan King
Auburn 247
Alex Golesh had as many SEC wins as Hugh Freeze last season.
And perhaps that 18-16 win at Florida helped Golesh land the job at Auburn. Regardless, the Gators are back on the schedule for the Tigers this fall — in the SEC opener in Week 3, no less, with Florida visiting Jordan-Hare Stadium for the first time in 15 years.
That's being billed as a big opportunity for both teams early in the season — two new regimes looking to get off on the right foot in the SEC. For Auburn, it's the first chance to pack out Jordan-Hare in prime time (6 p.m. CT, ESPN), seeing as the opener against Baylor is in Atlanta, and the home opener in Week 2 is against what's expected to be a dreadful Southern Miss team.
Last year's win for Golesh in Gainesville was easily the most monumental Power Four victory of his career as a head coach, and it was also a night his players won't soon forget. That includes quarterback Byrum Brown, who was 23-of-36 passing for 263 yards and a touchdown in that game.
"To pull it out was incredible," Brown said of a jubilant night for his Bulls in The Swamp. "It was early in the season, and it allowed us to have that level of confidence the rest of the way. It added confidence to each and every single day, knowing that any game is within reach, especially if you stick to your process."
USF took the lead in the third quarter on a 66-yard touchdown pass to Keshaun Singleton, but Florida retook the lead early in the fourth quarter. The upset seemed to be fading for USF after missing a potential go-ahead field goal inside three minutes left, but the Bulls immediately forced a three-and-out and got the ball back.
USF's 87-yard drive was kickstarted by a pair of Florida penalties, including a brutal unsportsmanlike conduct call. Brown dumped off a pass that turned into a 29-yard gain before the QB later bowled forward for an extra 10 yards across three plays in the red zone to set up a chip-shot, game-winning kick by Nico Gramatica.
That win set the tone for USF's surge. The Bulls beat back-to-back ranked teams to start the year in Boise State and Florida, and went on to win their most games in a season since 2017. The Bulls may have been heading toward a College Football Playoff berth if not for a November loss at Navy.
Of course, there's a much different perspective of that USF game from the Florida side. It was the beginning of the end for Billy Napier, who was fired after a 3-4 start. Florida hired Tulane's Jon Sumrall after he was long reported as a top candidate in Auburn's search.
The Gators brought back five starters on what should be a solid defense — and they remember the challenge of Brown, who will now be wearing an SEC uniform, too.
"He's definitely a great quarterback that can run downhill," Florida linebacker Myles Graham said of having to face Brown again this season. "Having a quarterback that can throw and run is definitely harder to prepare for. So we're excited to play him."
It's not as if Auburn's USF transfers have never experienced high-level competition, as Golesh coached two games against Alabama, two games against Miami and the Florida win. But there obviously is the lingering question of how that offense — with 11 USF transfers — will translate to the SEC, led by Brown and four receivers.
"Really just everyone flies to the ball — that makes the difference, a little faster, a little bigger, a little stronger," Brown said of the difference between facing American conference teams and SEC competition. "But it's football at the end of the day. We prepare week-to-week so we can perform out on the field."
Aside from the obvious importance of an SEC opener, Golesh and Sumrall's early tenures at their new programs will be compared, whether that's a silly exercise or not. Their outlooks are similar — young, fiery coaches with success in the American conference — and Sumrall was obviously very close to being Auburn's coach.
Sumrall didn't want to look too far ahead to Week 3, though he did express his excitement over a "traditional rivalry" returning. Auburn and Florida have played only twice in the past 18 years. The Gators won seven straight from 1995 to the 2000 SEC championship game before Auburn took three in a row. Florida won the last meeting in 2019 in Gainesville.
"I'm just thinking about today," Sumrall said Wednesday. "... When we get there, I'll approach what comes. Alex and I are good friends."
Auburn knows it can't afford to look ahead to a night game in Jordan-Hare Stadium, either.
"I don't know our schedule on the back of my hand," Brown said. "We're just thinking about Baylor."
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Teammates see a potential impact guy in WR Sam Turner
By Jason Caldwell
Auburn 247
This time last summer, one of the names that was mentioned the most about the upcoming football season for the Auburn Tigers was true freshman wide receiver Sam Turner Coming off a very strong spring and continuing that work during the summer, he was a player that many (including the Auburn coaches) thought was ready to take on a significant role for the Tigers in the wide receiver rotation.
But, it never happened.
Playing in just three games before an injury late in the year ended his season and required surgery, Turner is back healthy and has shown up this summer as Auburn prepares for year number one under Alex Golesh.
As someone who has seen more of Turner than most of the guys on the Auburn defense, Champ Anthony believes the guy they saw last year is back and ready to go this fall.
"Sam got hurt during practice last year, so people really don't know about him, but Sam is a guy," Anthony said. "He is an elite route-runner, he has really strong hands. Sam is strong and tough and super fast, can stop on a dime.
"People are going to be very surprised when they see Sam. He's another one of those guys who wasn't a high recruit, but once he got his shot he never looked back. This spring he rehabbed really well and is looking really good. I'd say he's one of the best we have."
Someone that is hoping that is true is quarterback Byrum Brown.. While there are some guys he's very familiar with in the wide receiver room after they came over from USF, adding a physical 6-1, 210 receiver with good hands is never a bad thing. Brown said he has seen the work from Turner since he's been at Auburn.
"He's one of the first guys in," Brown said. "He's on the JUGS. He's in the tub, getting his body right. And then he goes out there and dominates, every lift, every workout and every OTA. Sam Turner, he's been one of those guys for us."
With camp set to open on Aug. 5, it's going to be a time for everyone on the roster to show what they can do. Anthony believes Turner is getting ready to become a household name for this Auburn team.
"When he's out there you can tell he's different," Anthony said. "Sam is different. He's going to be one of those guys, I hope I'm not spoiling it, but he's going to be one of those guys we lean on. Very strong hands. Very smart route runner. He just understands it."
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How Alex Golesh plans to build a fast, explosive offense at Auburn
By Taylor Jones
Auburn Wire
During his time at the SEC Media Days podium in Tampa, Florida, Auburn football head coach Alex Golesh hit on the topic of "identity."
Golesh, who enters his first season as the Tigers' head coach in 2026, believes that proper alignment within the program is the key to success, and forming a consistent identity is a positive step in the right direction.
Golesh, who was Tennessee's offensive coordinator during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, says that the key to being an explosive offense is putting the proper playmakers in the best position to win. Golesh brought 13 players from USF with him to the Plains, as well as several assistant coaches, including offensive coordinator Joel Gordon and former Auburn quarterback/wide receiver Kodi Burns, who will serve as co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach.
Still, no spots have been locked up, and he hopes to find answers when the calendar flips to August.
"If we continue to do that, we've got the right staff to figure it out," Golesh said on creating an explosive offense. "We've got a bunch of guys that are familiar with the system. Got a bunch of guys that we brought in that are getting familiar with the system. But we need to use those three weeks to truly identify formationally how we do that, which guys can help, because we want to use as many as can help us, and then getting them in space."
Not only are Golesh's offenses known for creating explosive plays, but also for being fast. Golesh points out that the majority of teams Auburn will face this season use a high-tempo approach, and that his high-tempo style will help Auburn's defense prepare for what they will battle in SEC play.
"The goal is to play as efficiently and quickly as you can while executing with an elite level of detail. So for our defensive staff, it's what you want to get ready," Golesh said. "It's way easier to get ready for a tempo offense and then be able to slow it down where you have a little bit more time to get lined up, identify things, communicate, than the other way around where you're playing against a slow-down offense and when it's time to play an up-tempo offense, now you got to change the way you practice or how a scout team or multiple scout teams have got to operate."
Golesh looks to install an identity during training camp, which begins on Aug. 4. The Tigers open the season against Baylor at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 5.
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Alex Golesh Teases Comeback Year for Key Auburn Defender
By Griffin Barfield
Auburn Tigers on SI
Over the past few seasons, the Auburn Tigers have boasted a series of highly impressive defenses, but one key piece has been missing for large parts of the past two seasons: safety Champ Anthony, who has suffered two different broken leg injuries and a broken thumb and has yet to turn in a full season.
When Anthony is on the field, the unit seems to have more energy and more drive, as the junior college transfer is famed for his high-flying, hard-hitting defense. If you have seen the clip of an Auburn safety laying out an Arkansas receiver from two seasons ago, that was Anthony, just before injuring his leg on the very next play.
At SEC Media Days, where Anthony was a representative of the Tigers, new Auburn head coach Alex Golesh was asked why, specifically, he chose to bring Anthony to the conference.
“Champ is a young man that has overcome about as much as anybody in our program,” he said. “A young man since the day I got there has stood on the table for being at Auburn, leading the right way… has said over and over again, ‘Coach, just find a way to get me on the field and I'll do everything in my power to help Auburn win football games.’”
Many Auburn fans are quite happy with the fact that Golesh chose both Anthony and kicker Alex McPherson as representatives for Auburn at SEC Media Days, as the two have both proven that they believe in Auburn and love it, as well as displayed incredible, borderline inhuman perseverance.
Like McPherson, Anthony has not been deterred from having an impact on his team, even when he needed a scooter just to get around. Golesh, interestingly, chose not to focus on the on-field accolades of either McPherson or Anthony when talking about them at SEC Media Days, but rather their perseverance, effort and how they represent the program they love.
“[Anthony is] inspirational in every way,” Golesh said. “He is the first guy I see every morning when I walk into the building, rehabbing to get right. He is finally cleared. He's ready to rock and roll. In the spring, when he couldn't go, literally, I would have to pull him off the field because he was out there coaching his tail off. Champ represents everything you want an Auburn man to be, overcoming adversity, and I just absolutely can't wait for him to have the year that he deserves to have.”
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Auburn Ranked Top-10 In Offense Among SEC Programs
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
Offense has not been a strong suit for the Auburn Tigers over the past few years, even though Hugh Freeze was consistently able to bring in some of the best talent in the country just about every year.
However, under new head coach Alex Golesh, things are already looking up, as on Monday, the Tigers were ranked as one of the 10 strongest offenses in the SEC.
This ranking, courtesy of On3, sees the Tigers’ new-look offense ranked at No. 9, interestingly only one spot below the Alabama Crimson Tide, who have boasted some strong offenses over the years. This certainly bodes well for the Tigers, who have had some of the strongest defenses in the country over the past few years but have struggled to close games due to weak offensive efficiency.
So, what makes this Golesh offense so special? It all starts with the Tigers’ new quarterback, Byrum Brown, a man who needs little introduction on the Plains at this point. Brown has been hailed as the savior of Auburn’s quarterback troubles, and he has the stats and experience to match, boasting over 4,000 total yards last season, including over 1,000 yards on the ground.
Brown, who is now weighing in at nearly 240 pounds, is quite an effective passer, but perhaps the biggest value he adds to the team in its current state is his standing as the third head in a three-headed Auburn monster rushing attack.
The Tigers, who have struggled to effectively establish the run over the past few years, will turn to Jeremiah Cobb, a senior Auburn returner and the lone returner from last year’s offense, as well as Bryson Washington, a highly effective transfer back from Baylor. The combo of Cobb, Washington and Brown should leave opposing defensive coordinators’ heads spinning as they try to figure out how to stop not just one effective Auburn rusher, but three.
Brown and Golesh brought over some top-level receiving talent from USF, as well. In fact, four of the Bulls’ top-five receivers by total yards last year are now sporting the orange and blue, who, despite not being the five-star monsters that Hugh Freeze once recruited, have a level of familiarity with Golesh’s offense and, of course, their quarterback, who has spoken highly of each receiver at this point in the offseason.
The only major question mark for the Tigers at this point is their offensive line, which has been, admittedly, a bit cobbled together after all six of Auburn’s 2025 offensive linemen departed, either to the NFL or to other programs. There have been concerns as to how their blocking will affect the rushing game, but if they are able to execute at a high level, the Tigers’ offense could be incredibly tough to slow down.
Of course, a No. 9 spot is still in the bottom half of the SEC, but if the Tigers manage a strong start to the season due to their preexisting cohesiveness, that number could quickly jump much, much higher later in the year.
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Three key must-win games that will shape Auburn's 2026 season and beyond
By Alec Sanner
Fly War Eagle
Alex Golesh is facing a trial by fire with the 2026 schedule, which includes a daunting four-game stretch. Those games will test the Tigers both mentally and physically, but there are three games that are must-win. Why are these games so important? Well, there is narrative and momentum and the ability to keep the fan base happy. But most importantly, recruiting and competitiveness are two huge bricks for Golesh to build his legacy at Auburn.
Let’s dive into which of these games this year are must-win.
Baylor Bears
It should be obvious why this game is so important: the rematch with DJ Lagway after Florida barely lost at home to USF. Lagway looks to have a redemption game against Auburn in prime time in Atlanta, so winning this game is paramount for Golesh to right the ship. Bonus points if they really beat up Baylor, but a win is a win. This win would not only show that they can win when the world is watching but also show every high school recruit that too. Which then in turn lands better classes, and we all know what that looks like.
Florida Gators
Florida is a very important game for Auburn, and some think they can catch them early before the Tigers get everything installed. Jon Sumrall took over and is looking to do the very same thing that Golesh is doing with his program: become a winner again. Beating Golesh would solidify Sumrall’s argument that he should have had a big school last year. But for Golesh, it would prove he was always ready for this role. He built his name with USF and bringing his high-powered offense to the SEC. Winning this game proves that last year wasn’t a fluke with Lagway and immediately puts huge momentum for the next game.
Tennessee Volunteers
This game is a huge momentum swing for Auburn. If they play their cards right, they could be 4-0 heading into Neyland Stadium with a Volunteers team that could be licking their wounds after hosting Texas the week before. Yes, Tennessee is notorious for being excellent after a loss, but do not waver. It is worth mentioning that Golesh coached under Josh Heupel in 2021 and 2022. So that may help Alex Golesh figure out how to overcome what Heupel might have in store. Winning this game would not only put the disciple-beats-the-master narrative out there but also give a huge boost in recruiting as well.
Every game is important for Auburn, but these games hold a little bit of a bigger spot for Golesh. Winning in the SEC is one of the biggest achievements in football, and being the one to turn Auburn into a powerhouse again is legend-building. If Alex Golesh wins and turns Auburn into a dynasty, they will build statues of him, but that all starts with winning games like these.
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No. 1 Auburn Commit Responds to Recruiting Pushes From Top Programs
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
The Auburn Tigers have already lost two commits to flips in the 2027 cycle, but one of the top commits in their class recently told Jeffrey Lee of On3 that, despite recruiting pushes from a litany of top programs, he will be staying with the Tigers no matter what.
The recruit in question is Myson Johnson-Cook, a four-star running back who is currently tied in rating as the Tigers’ top commit in the 2027 class. As it stands, he is rated as the fifth-best running back in the country, as well as the fourth-best player from his home state of Illinois.
Needless to say, Johnson-Cook was a massive addition for the Tigers when he committed back in April, and, in fact, he was the Tigers’ third commit in their 2027 class under new head coach Alex Golesh. The top-rated back has proven to be a big help in the Tigers’ later recruiting efforts, as he has been quite outspoken on social media about his love for the program and belief that particular prospects would be best suited on the Plains.
Despite these proclamations, other programs have not been deterred from continuing their pursuit of Johnson-Cook, and Florida and Miami have notably made big-time pushes in recent weeks. However, Johnson-Cook is not planning on going anywhere.
"I feel really good about my commitment, 100 percent,” he said. “ I don't plan on flipping at all."
Of course, as is the nature of recruiting, anything can happen, but Johnson-Cook seems pretty set in his decision to come to Auburn. This is certainly good news for the Tigers, who have already lost three-star wide receiver Cedrick Simmons in a flip to Alabama, as well as three-star running back Kingston Miles in a flip to Missouri.
Johnson-Cook is set to join a rather stacked room of Auburn running backs that, barring any transfers or other additions, looks to include Bryson Washington, a Baylor transfer, Omar Mabson, former five-star prospect Alvin Henderson, USF transfer RB1 Nykahi Davenport and potentially a host of others.
In-class, Johnson-Cook is joined by Khamoni Williams, a three-star who, rather ironically, ended up in the Tigers’ 11th-ranked recruiting class by way of a flip from West Virginia. The Tigers appear to be at the tail end of their recruiting efforts for the summer, at least in their 2027 class, though Golesh has made a habit of surprising Tiger fans with commitments when they least expect it.
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Lane Kiffin Commends Auburn, Golesh Ahead of Return to 'Magical' Jordan-Hare
By Gunner Norene
Auburn Tigers on SI
The Auburn Tigers have several extremely important games in Alex Golesh’s first season on the Plains, but perhaps there are few that are more intriguing than their clash against LSU in October.
Considering it’s the latest renewal of a rivalry that hasn’t been played in three years, featuring an opposing head coach who has a somewhat dramatic history with Auburn, the game could be one of the most electric home atmospheres in recent memory.
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin has been one of the hottest names of the offseason after leaving Ole Miss and heading to Baton Rouge before the Rebels’ run in the College Football Playoff last year, and his appearance at the main podium during SEC Media Days was certainly among the most-anticipated moments heading into this week.
There always seems to be a question about Auburn, and, well, sure enough, Auburn and its new coaching staff were brought up once again on Thursday morning.
And this time, instead of addressing social media semantics with former head coach Hugh Freeze, like he did last year, Kiffin actually relayed a supportive message of confidence in Golesh and company.
“I think Auburn is a great program,” Kiffin said. “I think they have new energy with the coaching staff and a really good offensive system coming in and keeping DJ Durkin on defense.”
Kiffin hasn’t faced Auburn since Ole Miss defeated the Tigers three years ago in Freeze’s first season at the helm, but he hasn’t forgotten how challenging the environment at Jordan-Hare Stadium is, even amidst the worst stretch in program history.
“I think that they're going to be a really improved program, and that's a really hard place to play always and really gives people a lot of problems,” Kiffin said. “Kind of a magical stadium that magical things happen in.”
“That's one of many extremely competitive games we have, including really for the first time that you have five road conference games,” Kiffin added.
Kiffin’s return to Jordan-Hare Stadium comes a few years after an interesting series of events following the firing of Bryan Harsin, when he was one of Auburn’s top candidates during its coaching search.
Obviously, the Tigers went on to hire Freeze, but it recently became public that Kiffin was planning on taking the Auburn job before his daughter Landry convinced him to stay in Oxford. Since then, he has been anything but silent on Twitter, posting light-hearted jabs toward Freeze and the program as a whole.
Thus, his return to the Plains in the purple and gold will certainly be something to watch.
In terms of stakes on the field, the matchup between the two squads of Tigers could be huge for Auburn.
LSU comes into town during the toughest month of the season for Auburn, a four-game stretch that includes road tests to Tennessee, Georgia, and Ole Miss. If Auburn manages to beat Florida and Vanderbilt on its home turf, it’s a realistic possibility that the Tigers start the season 4-0 before heading to Knoxville and Athens.
From there, it’s likely that Auburn falls to the Volunteers and the Bulldogs to kick off October, which means that a win against LSU would avoid a three-game skid and push the Tigers to a 5-2 record before their trip to Oxford.
In terms of pure “vibes” and feeling amongst the fanbase, a home victory over one of college football’s most storied programs could inject levels amounts of optimism that Auburn hasn't seen in a half-decade.
It seems like forever since the Tigers have finished on the winning side of an important SEC game, especially in front of their home fans, so acheiving that in Golesh’s inaugural year would officially put Auburn back on track to national prominence.
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It's become painfully obvious that Auburn never moved Cam Coleman
By Andrew Hughes
Fly War Eagle
The Texas Longhorns' version of Cam Coleman will probably look unrecognizable to the one the Auburn Tigers had don the orange and blue over the past two years. It will hurt, Tiger fans. But it's coming whether you want it to or not.
We know Coleman is bulked up. We know that he and Texas quarterback Arch Manning looked natural together during the Longhorns' open spring football practice at DKR Stadium. Manning's description of the extent of Coleman's buy-in during the final day of 2026 SEC Football Media Days on Thursday was overwhelming, still.
"He's a great teammate. He works really hard. The good thing about Cam and how we built our relationship is he always wants to throw. He always wants to meet extra. And I think anytime you get a guy like that, it's easier for me to become close with. He's also a good guy. He can joke, and we can go eat. And I'm excited to have him on my team. That's for sure," Manning said of Coleman.
Coleman was, by many accounts, the complete opposite on the Plains. When I spoke to On3's Jake Crain in January after Coleman hit the portal, I heard the former Central Red Devils star wasn't giving his all in practice. SEC Network analyst and former Auburn center Cole Cubelic doesn't miss Coleman or Deuce Knight.
It's been a radical transformation of Coleman's character in a short period. It cannot speak enough to how ineffective fired ex-head coach Hugh Freeze was as the locker room leader that Coleman has become such a good receiver teammate for Manning in Austin.
Auburn should've gotten Cam Coleman's best, but didn't earn his respect
In hindsight, the Tigers didn't get anywhere close to Coleman's full respect. That's not to say he gave Auburn disrespect, but he certainly never felt incentivized to be his best like he is now. Coleman clearly didn't feel like the Tigers were good enough.
He was probably right. Key drops and the infamous 2025 Iron Bowl fumble aside, Coleman was still the team's top receiver last season. He was still tied for the most receiving touchdowns in 2024 with KeAndre Lambert-Smith. Coleman was by no stretch bad. And we all know he could've had much better stats if he had a better quarterback. Hell, both seasons he was at Auburn, he didn't have a definitive QB1 once the campaigns were in full swing. Coleman deserved more than QB battles bleeding into the season.
Even if there was a better QB, there wasn't enough talent at the tackle spots to keep said signal-caller safe in the backfield. Coleman was never going to get the deep balls he'll receive this season from a well-protected Manning.
The topic has been dissected every which way for months, but hearing Arch go into detail about how dialed-in Coleman is these days is a painful reminder that the Tigers may have never deserved Coleman.
More aptly put, Freeze never deserved to land Coleman, but had other people's money to spend to pay for him. Unfortunately, that money isn't coming back, and neither is Cam.
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SEC commish throws cold water on 'breakaway' notion, but league tension is high with Senate bill still up for grabs
By Ross Dellenger
Senior College Football Reporter
Within this waterfront Marriott hotel along an offshoot of Tampa Bay, college football's biggest media extravaganza unfolds.
In the main grand hallway, where hundreds of press members gather here for SEC football media days, a giant logo portraying the conference's three iconic letters — S-E-C — serves as the primary visual backdrop.
But adjacent to that display, behind a guarded curtain, the league's commissioner slumps into a chair as he scrolls through his cell phone during a rare quiet moment amidst the bustle.
"Mmm," he mutters as he glares at the screen. "More messages from Washington."
A topic at this year's event — even among the head football coaches themselves — is ongoing negotiations over a congressional bill to regulate college athletics and, perhaps even more notable, the SEC's potential plans, without revised federal legislation, to operate within its own silo: a conference-led governance model that's caused a stir across the country.
In fact, in a sitdown with Yahoo Sports, commissioner Greg Sankey says the frustration within his league over the absence of regulation and enforcement will "continue to simmer" and "if we're not able to deal with issues, then the boil starts."
Does that mean the SEC intends to execute a full-fledged breakaway from the NCAA umbrella, to remove itself from the College Football Playoff and NCAA championships, to only play itself in the regular season, hold its own postseason tournament and then, if another league's champion wants to duel, play them in a neutral-site game deemed as the new national championship?
No, Sankey says.
But it does mean that the SEC is exploring a self-governing model to create and then enforce its own rules related to eligibility, transfers and athlete compensation.
However, he's made clear in a recommendation to university presidents that it is not his preferred course of action. What is? A congressional bill.
While coaches parade across media day here, lawmakers and staff members in Washington, D.C. are continuing intense negotiations over revisions to the Protect College Sports Act in an effort to gain the support of the SEC and Big Ten. In fact, Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti, on the Hill this week, has been an active, in-person participant in the negotiations with the bill's co-authors: Sens. Ted Cruz, Maria Cantwell and Eric Schmitt. ACC commissioner Jim Phillips was scheduled to be on the Hill on Wednesday too.
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark and Sankey, from the enclave at media days, have participated by phone.
Without a bill, the SEC's conference-led governance model "takes on more interest," said Sankey. "But that doesn't mean something is poised to happen."
"If the headline remains that we're breaking away, that's uninformed," he told Yahoo Sports.
Those with knowledge of negotiations over the Senate bill have expressed renewed confidence in reaching an agreement with the two conferences over supporting the legislation — a key to the bill moving through the Senate, then the House and being signed by the president.
The latest discussions have centered mostly on changes to the revenue-share cap. Lawmakers are discussing the creation of a separate retention pool of money — $25 million in addition to the $21.3 million cap — that schools can use for the sole purpose of retaining athletes currently on their roster.
Cap adjustments are necessary, Sankey told Yahoo Sports, but he'd prefer to see finalized texts before commenting on the retention pool.
A litany of other issues languish as lawmakers and staff members work to reach a compromise on revisions, both between themselves — the Republican Cruz and Democrat Cantwell — and with leaders of the SEC and Big Ten.
For instance, an anti-expansion provision remains a fluid subject that, as of the latest discussions, would cap conference membership at 19 schools and require programs moving from one power conference to another to operate as an independent for five years. Such a move may expedite another wave of conference expansion as schools jockey to elevate themselves — such as ACC programs moving to the Big Ten or SEC — before the bill passes.
Lawmakers are expected to add to the legislation a provision that prohibits third-party entities, such as private equity firms, from creating a super league by poaching the top 20-30 brands in the country in a move to generate millions more in revenue. It was a request from the Big Ten and SEC.
Asked why he's so concerned about such entities forming a super league, Sankey told Yahoo Sports, "Because that's what their proposals contemplate. You can define it however you want to, but my view is, whether it's 20, 30, 70, 130 [schools], you are really creating a super league. There's no assurance that once that project is down the road and it can't generate the income it's promised for 130, that they don't scale back to something very different."
Sankey often refers to the SEC as its own "super league." And many within his conference believe that the SEC should not only govern itself but only compete against itself — a model spearheaded publicly by Georgia president Jere Morehead.
"l think we'd want to play with the schools following the rules," Morehead told Yahoo Sports earlier this year.
A conference-only governance model is rife with its own problems, let alone the revolutionary action of competitively leaving everyone behind. Sankey holds a background in college compliance and said a league enforcing its own rules would be "very" difficult. It's why many conferences, including the SEC, abandoned such a structure years ago and instead granted the NCAA control over regulation and enforcement.
When he joined the SEC, Sankey told then-commissioner Mike Slive that he did not want the role of "head of enforcement" because of the difficulties associated with the league penalizing its own member schools.
And what about a competitive breakaway? Starting your own playoff? Playing only yourself?
The ideas have been discussed among administrators as a "Plan B" if federal legislation doesn't pass. But, Sankey said, the plan may lead to political problems with the same entity, Congress, that officials are lobbying for assistance.
"It doesn't take much imagination to say we're going to leave [competitively] and you're in congressional hearings [answering for it]. I think that's unwise."
Star LSU linebacker: Xavier Atkins was always 'going to be a problem':
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburn-tigers-football-xavier-atkins-whit-weeks-288486841/
Can Xavier Atkins' pursuit skills outweigh his size to NFL scouts?:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/football/2026/07/23/auburn-football-nfl-draft-scouting-xavier-atkins/91029176007/
Auburn's USF transfers get another crack at Florida in SEC opener — and vice versa:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburn-tigers-football-usf-florida-game-2026-schedule-288473871/
Teammates see a potential impact guy in WR Sam Turner:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/sam-turner-has-impressed-this-summer-as-the-tigers-prepare-for-the-2026-season-288473799/
How Alex Golesh plans to build a fast, explosive offense at Auburn:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/football/2026/07/23/auburn-football-sec-media-days-identity-alex-golesh/91024791007/
Alex Golesh Teases Comeback Year for Key Auburn Defender:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/alex-golesh-teases-comeback-year-for-key-auburn-defender-champ-anthony
Auburn Ranked Top-10 In Offense Among SEC Programs:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/auburn-ranked-top-10-in-offense-among-sec-programs
Three key must-win games that will shape Auburn's 2026 season and beyond:
https://flywareagle.com/three-key-must-win-games-that-will-shape-auburn-s-2026-season-and-beyond-01ky80ymnwvq
No. 1 Auburn Commit Responds to Recruiting Pushes From Top Programs:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/recruiting/no-1-auburn-commit-responds-to-recruiting-pushes-from-top-programs-myson-johnson-cook
Lane Kiffin Commends Auburn, Golesh Ahead of Return to 'Magical' Jordan-Hare:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/lane-kiffin-commends-auburn-golesh-ahead-return-magical-jordan-hare
It's become painfully obvious that Auburn never moved Cam Coleman:
https://flywareagle.com/its-become-painfully-obvious-auburn-never-moved-cam-coleman
SEC commish throws cold water on 'breakaway' notion, but league tension is high with Senate bill still up for grabs:
https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/article/sec-commissioner-greg-sankey-breakaway-leave-ncaa-league-tension-high-with-senate-bill-looming-184801784.html
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Star LSU linebacker: Xavier Atkins was always 'going to be a problem'
By Nathan King
Auburn 247
Auburn got to know Xavier Atkins last season as the heat-seeking missile of its defense.
Whit Weeks knew him as a wide-eyed freshman in Baton Rouge.
Weeks, one year older than Atkins in LSU's linebacker room, took Atkins under his wing when he arrived in 2024 from the Houston area. And it only took a few hits in practice for Weeks to realize his teammate's athletic potential.
Atkins was the definition of a breakout player last year when he essentially came out of nowhere to become an All-American at Auburn. But Weeks was far from surprised.
"You could tell from the first time that dude stepped foot on campus that he was going to be a problem," Weeks said Thursday at SEC Media Days.
A year before Atkins had 84 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and nine sacks for Auburn's defense, he barely got on the field as a true freshman. His usage was sprinkled in over the course of seven games, and he finished with only seven tackles.
But at practice, Weeks could see the talent clear as day. The way he describes a freshman Atkins at LSU is exactly the kind of player Auburn got the following year.
"That dude just has a knack for the football," Weeks said. "It's like every single play, 'There's Xavier, there's Xavier, there's Xavier.' It does not shock me at all — the player he's turned into. I couldn't be more happy for him."
Weeks, on the other hand, popped right away as a top-100 freshman and had 49 tackles in 2023. He followed up with 125 tackles as a sophomore before dealing with an injury last year.
"The mental aspect of it, for sure," Weeks said of the biggest adjustment in going from high school to the SEC at linebacker. "And then the size. The offensive linemen you face in high school are 185 pounds, 200 pounds. Then you're going against 335-pounders every day. The physical aspect of it is hard for a freshman to come in, but even harder than that is the mental aspect."
Weeks will face his old LSU teammate when Auburn hosts Lane Kiffin's team on Oct. 24.
Atkins is the heartbeat of that Auburn defense once again — a unit that will need him to be stout, since the Tigers have to replace three NFL draft picks on the defensive front. Auburn is confident he will be.
"He's a football player," defensive back Champ Anthony said at SEC Media Days. "I know he's listed as a linebacker, but he's a real football player. I know third downs, I know what I'm getting with him. I know he's going to get that quarterback."
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Can Xavier Atkins' pursuit skills outweigh his size to NFL scouts?
By Taylor Jones
Auburn Wire
After breaking out last season, Auburn linebacker Xavier Atkins is poised to become Auburn's next high-profile NFL draft pick.
Atkins made a statement in 2025 by leading the SEC in tackles for loss (17) and finishing third in sacks (9). Not only has Atkins become a household name in college football, but he has caught the eye of NFL scouts ahead of the new season.
Dane Brugler of The Athletic recently featured Atkins in his NFL Draft Summer Scouting series, where he ranked the best draft-eligible linebackers ahead of the 2026 season. Atkins checks in at No. 3 due to his incredible ball-carrier pursuit skills, which Brugler describes as "rabid."
The best example of Atkins’ twitchy, rabid pursuit came on the Arkansas tape. Quarterback Taylen Green gave defenses trouble all season with his legs, but he managed only 14 rushing yards against Auburn — mostly because of Atkins’ spying skills. Atkins finished the game with 13 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks and one forced fumble.
In addition to providing a strength, Brugler also mentioned a weakness for each linebacker. Unfortunately for Atkins, his weakness is one he can not control.
The NFL is tight when it comes to size. For Atkins, his 6-0, 210-pound frame prevents him from being higher on NFL draft boards. Brugler hopes to see Atkins continue to play "bigger" than he is, and provides a guideline for how Atkins can entertain scouts despite his size.
Regardless of his alignment, he’s shown he can fly to the football and arrive like a ton of bricks. His NFL projection is a tad complicated due to his size and usage, but Atkins is well-liked around the league.
According to Brugler's ranking, Clemson's Sammy Brown and Georgia's Chris Cole are ahead of Atkins this preseason. Atkins will work this season to overtake Brown and Cole on the linebacker draft boards and become Auburn's second-straight first-round pick, following former Auburn EDGE Keldric Faulk, who was selected No. 31 overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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Auburn's USF transfers get another crack at Florida in SEC opener — and vice versa
By Nathan King
Auburn 247
Alex Golesh had as many SEC wins as Hugh Freeze last season.
And perhaps that 18-16 win at Florida helped Golesh land the job at Auburn. Regardless, the Gators are back on the schedule for the Tigers this fall — in the SEC opener in Week 3, no less, with Florida visiting Jordan-Hare Stadium for the first time in 15 years.
That's being billed as a big opportunity for both teams early in the season — two new regimes looking to get off on the right foot in the SEC. For Auburn, it's the first chance to pack out Jordan-Hare in prime time (6 p.m. CT, ESPN), seeing as the opener against Baylor is in Atlanta, and the home opener in Week 2 is against what's expected to be a dreadful Southern Miss team.
Last year's win for Golesh in Gainesville was easily the most monumental Power Four victory of his career as a head coach, and it was also a night his players won't soon forget. That includes quarterback Byrum Brown, who was 23-of-36 passing for 263 yards and a touchdown in that game.
"To pull it out was incredible," Brown said of a jubilant night for his Bulls in The Swamp. "It was early in the season, and it allowed us to have that level of confidence the rest of the way. It added confidence to each and every single day, knowing that any game is within reach, especially if you stick to your process."
USF took the lead in the third quarter on a 66-yard touchdown pass to Keshaun Singleton, but Florida retook the lead early in the fourth quarter. The upset seemed to be fading for USF after missing a potential go-ahead field goal inside three minutes left, but the Bulls immediately forced a three-and-out and got the ball back.
USF's 87-yard drive was kickstarted by a pair of Florida penalties, including a brutal unsportsmanlike conduct call. Brown dumped off a pass that turned into a 29-yard gain before the QB later bowled forward for an extra 10 yards across three plays in the red zone to set up a chip-shot, game-winning kick by Nico Gramatica.
That win set the tone for USF's surge. The Bulls beat back-to-back ranked teams to start the year in Boise State and Florida, and went on to win their most games in a season since 2017. The Bulls may have been heading toward a College Football Playoff berth if not for a November loss at Navy.
Of course, there's a much different perspective of that USF game from the Florida side. It was the beginning of the end for Billy Napier, who was fired after a 3-4 start. Florida hired Tulane's Jon Sumrall after he was long reported as a top candidate in Auburn's search.
The Gators brought back five starters on what should be a solid defense — and they remember the challenge of Brown, who will now be wearing an SEC uniform, too.
"He's definitely a great quarterback that can run downhill," Florida linebacker Myles Graham said of having to face Brown again this season. "Having a quarterback that can throw and run is definitely harder to prepare for. So we're excited to play him."
It's not as if Auburn's USF transfers have never experienced high-level competition, as Golesh coached two games against Alabama, two games against Miami and the Florida win. But there obviously is the lingering question of how that offense — with 11 USF transfers — will translate to the SEC, led by Brown and four receivers.
"Really just everyone flies to the ball — that makes the difference, a little faster, a little bigger, a little stronger," Brown said of the difference between facing American conference teams and SEC competition. "But it's football at the end of the day. We prepare week-to-week so we can perform out on the field."
Aside from the obvious importance of an SEC opener, Golesh and Sumrall's early tenures at their new programs will be compared, whether that's a silly exercise or not. Their outlooks are similar — young, fiery coaches with success in the American conference — and Sumrall was obviously very close to being Auburn's coach.
Sumrall didn't want to look too far ahead to Week 3, though he did express his excitement over a "traditional rivalry" returning. Auburn and Florida have played only twice in the past 18 years. The Gators won seven straight from 1995 to the 2000 SEC championship game before Auburn took three in a row. Florida won the last meeting in 2019 in Gainesville.
"I'm just thinking about today," Sumrall said Wednesday. "... When we get there, I'll approach what comes. Alex and I are good friends."
Auburn knows it can't afford to look ahead to a night game in Jordan-Hare Stadium, either.
"I don't know our schedule on the back of my hand," Brown said. "We're just thinking about Baylor."
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Teammates see a potential impact guy in WR Sam Turner
By Jason Caldwell
Auburn 247
This time last summer, one of the names that was mentioned the most about the upcoming football season for the Auburn Tigers was true freshman wide receiver Sam Turner Coming off a very strong spring and continuing that work during the summer, he was a player that many (including the Auburn coaches) thought was ready to take on a significant role for the Tigers in the wide receiver rotation.
But, it never happened.
Playing in just three games before an injury late in the year ended his season and required surgery, Turner is back healthy and has shown up this summer as Auburn prepares for year number one under Alex Golesh.
As someone who has seen more of Turner than most of the guys on the Auburn defense, Champ Anthony believes the guy they saw last year is back and ready to go this fall.
"Sam got hurt during practice last year, so people really don't know about him, but Sam is a guy," Anthony said. "He is an elite route-runner, he has really strong hands. Sam is strong and tough and super fast, can stop on a dime.
"People are going to be very surprised when they see Sam. He's another one of those guys who wasn't a high recruit, but once he got his shot he never looked back. This spring he rehabbed really well and is looking really good. I'd say he's one of the best we have."
Someone that is hoping that is true is quarterback Byrum Brown.. While there are some guys he's very familiar with in the wide receiver room after they came over from USF, adding a physical 6-1, 210 receiver with good hands is never a bad thing. Brown said he has seen the work from Turner since he's been at Auburn.
"He's one of the first guys in," Brown said. "He's on the JUGS. He's in the tub, getting his body right. And then he goes out there and dominates, every lift, every workout and every OTA. Sam Turner, he's been one of those guys for us."
With camp set to open on Aug. 5, it's going to be a time for everyone on the roster to show what they can do. Anthony believes Turner is getting ready to become a household name for this Auburn team.
"When he's out there you can tell he's different," Anthony said. "Sam is different. He's going to be one of those guys, I hope I'm not spoiling it, but he's going to be one of those guys we lean on. Very strong hands. Very smart route runner. He just understands it."
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How Alex Golesh plans to build a fast, explosive offense at Auburn
By Taylor Jones
Auburn Wire
During his time at the SEC Media Days podium in Tampa, Florida, Auburn football head coach Alex Golesh hit on the topic of "identity."
Golesh, who enters his first season as the Tigers' head coach in 2026, believes that proper alignment within the program is the key to success, and forming a consistent identity is a positive step in the right direction.
Golesh, who was Tennessee's offensive coordinator during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, says that the key to being an explosive offense is putting the proper playmakers in the best position to win. Golesh brought 13 players from USF with him to the Plains, as well as several assistant coaches, including offensive coordinator Joel Gordon and former Auburn quarterback/wide receiver Kodi Burns, who will serve as co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach.
Still, no spots have been locked up, and he hopes to find answers when the calendar flips to August.
"If we continue to do that, we've got the right staff to figure it out," Golesh said on creating an explosive offense. "We've got a bunch of guys that are familiar with the system. Got a bunch of guys that we brought in that are getting familiar with the system. But we need to use those three weeks to truly identify formationally how we do that, which guys can help, because we want to use as many as can help us, and then getting them in space."
Not only are Golesh's offenses known for creating explosive plays, but also for being fast. Golesh points out that the majority of teams Auburn will face this season use a high-tempo approach, and that his high-tempo style will help Auburn's defense prepare for what they will battle in SEC play.
"The goal is to play as efficiently and quickly as you can while executing with an elite level of detail. So for our defensive staff, it's what you want to get ready," Golesh said. "It's way easier to get ready for a tempo offense and then be able to slow it down where you have a little bit more time to get lined up, identify things, communicate, than the other way around where you're playing against a slow-down offense and when it's time to play an up-tempo offense, now you got to change the way you practice or how a scout team or multiple scout teams have got to operate."
Golesh looks to install an identity during training camp, which begins on Aug. 4. The Tigers open the season against Baylor at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 5.
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Alex Golesh Teases Comeback Year for Key Auburn Defender
By Griffin Barfield
Auburn Tigers on SI
Over the past few seasons, the Auburn Tigers have boasted a series of highly impressive defenses, but one key piece has been missing for large parts of the past two seasons: safety Champ Anthony, who has suffered two different broken leg injuries and a broken thumb and has yet to turn in a full season.
When Anthony is on the field, the unit seems to have more energy and more drive, as the junior college transfer is famed for his high-flying, hard-hitting defense. If you have seen the clip of an Auburn safety laying out an Arkansas receiver from two seasons ago, that was Anthony, just before injuring his leg on the very next play.
At SEC Media Days, where Anthony was a representative of the Tigers, new Auburn head coach Alex Golesh was asked why, specifically, he chose to bring Anthony to the conference.
“Champ is a young man that has overcome about as much as anybody in our program,” he said. “A young man since the day I got there has stood on the table for being at Auburn, leading the right way… has said over and over again, ‘Coach, just find a way to get me on the field and I'll do everything in my power to help Auburn win football games.’”
Many Auburn fans are quite happy with the fact that Golesh chose both Anthony and kicker Alex McPherson as representatives for Auburn at SEC Media Days, as the two have both proven that they believe in Auburn and love it, as well as displayed incredible, borderline inhuman perseverance.
Like McPherson, Anthony has not been deterred from having an impact on his team, even when he needed a scooter just to get around. Golesh, interestingly, chose not to focus on the on-field accolades of either McPherson or Anthony when talking about them at SEC Media Days, but rather their perseverance, effort and how they represent the program they love.
“[Anthony is] inspirational in every way,” Golesh said. “He is the first guy I see every morning when I walk into the building, rehabbing to get right. He is finally cleared. He's ready to rock and roll. In the spring, when he couldn't go, literally, I would have to pull him off the field because he was out there coaching his tail off. Champ represents everything you want an Auburn man to be, overcoming adversity, and I just absolutely can't wait for him to have the year that he deserves to have.”
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Auburn Ranked Top-10 In Offense Among SEC Programs
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
Offense has not been a strong suit for the Auburn Tigers over the past few years, even though Hugh Freeze was consistently able to bring in some of the best talent in the country just about every year.
However, under new head coach Alex Golesh, things are already looking up, as on Monday, the Tigers were ranked as one of the 10 strongest offenses in the SEC.
This ranking, courtesy of On3, sees the Tigers’ new-look offense ranked at No. 9, interestingly only one spot below the Alabama Crimson Tide, who have boasted some strong offenses over the years. This certainly bodes well for the Tigers, who have had some of the strongest defenses in the country over the past few years but have struggled to close games due to weak offensive efficiency.
So, what makes this Golesh offense so special? It all starts with the Tigers’ new quarterback, Byrum Brown, a man who needs little introduction on the Plains at this point. Brown has been hailed as the savior of Auburn’s quarterback troubles, and he has the stats and experience to match, boasting over 4,000 total yards last season, including over 1,000 yards on the ground.
Brown, who is now weighing in at nearly 240 pounds, is quite an effective passer, but perhaps the biggest value he adds to the team in its current state is his standing as the third head in a three-headed Auburn monster rushing attack.
The Tigers, who have struggled to effectively establish the run over the past few years, will turn to Jeremiah Cobb, a senior Auburn returner and the lone returner from last year’s offense, as well as Bryson Washington, a highly effective transfer back from Baylor. The combo of Cobb, Washington and Brown should leave opposing defensive coordinators’ heads spinning as they try to figure out how to stop not just one effective Auburn rusher, but three.
Brown and Golesh brought over some top-level receiving talent from USF, as well. In fact, four of the Bulls’ top-five receivers by total yards last year are now sporting the orange and blue, who, despite not being the five-star monsters that Hugh Freeze once recruited, have a level of familiarity with Golesh’s offense and, of course, their quarterback, who has spoken highly of each receiver at this point in the offseason.
The only major question mark for the Tigers at this point is their offensive line, which has been, admittedly, a bit cobbled together after all six of Auburn’s 2025 offensive linemen departed, either to the NFL or to other programs. There have been concerns as to how their blocking will affect the rushing game, but if they are able to execute at a high level, the Tigers’ offense could be incredibly tough to slow down.
Of course, a No. 9 spot is still in the bottom half of the SEC, but if the Tigers manage a strong start to the season due to their preexisting cohesiveness, that number could quickly jump much, much higher later in the year.
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Three key must-win games that will shape Auburn's 2026 season and beyond
By Alec Sanner
Fly War Eagle
Alex Golesh is facing a trial by fire with the 2026 schedule, which includes a daunting four-game stretch. Those games will test the Tigers both mentally and physically, but there are three games that are must-win. Why are these games so important? Well, there is narrative and momentum and the ability to keep the fan base happy. But most importantly, recruiting and competitiveness are two huge bricks for Golesh to build his legacy at Auburn.
Let’s dive into which of these games this year are must-win.
Baylor Bears
It should be obvious why this game is so important: the rematch with DJ Lagway after Florida barely lost at home to USF. Lagway looks to have a redemption game against Auburn in prime time in Atlanta, so winning this game is paramount for Golesh to right the ship. Bonus points if they really beat up Baylor, but a win is a win. This win would not only show that they can win when the world is watching but also show every high school recruit that too. Which then in turn lands better classes, and we all know what that looks like.
Florida Gators
Florida is a very important game for Auburn, and some think they can catch them early before the Tigers get everything installed. Jon Sumrall took over and is looking to do the very same thing that Golesh is doing with his program: become a winner again. Beating Golesh would solidify Sumrall’s argument that he should have had a big school last year. But for Golesh, it would prove he was always ready for this role. He built his name with USF and bringing his high-powered offense to the SEC. Winning this game proves that last year wasn’t a fluke with Lagway and immediately puts huge momentum for the next game.
Tennessee Volunteers
This game is a huge momentum swing for Auburn. If they play their cards right, they could be 4-0 heading into Neyland Stadium with a Volunteers team that could be licking their wounds after hosting Texas the week before. Yes, Tennessee is notorious for being excellent after a loss, but do not waver. It is worth mentioning that Golesh coached under Josh Heupel in 2021 and 2022. So that may help Alex Golesh figure out how to overcome what Heupel might have in store. Winning this game would not only put the disciple-beats-the-master narrative out there but also give a huge boost in recruiting as well.
Every game is important for Auburn, but these games hold a little bit of a bigger spot for Golesh. Winning in the SEC is one of the biggest achievements in football, and being the one to turn Auburn into a powerhouse again is legend-building. If Alex Golesh wins and turns Auburn into a dynasty, they will build statues of him, but that all starts with winning games like these.
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No. 1 Auburn Commit Responds to Recruiting Pushes From Top Programs
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
The Auburn Tigers have already lost two commits to flips in the 2027 cycle, but one of the top commits in their class recently told Jeffrey Lee of On3 that, despite recruiting pushes from a litany of top programs, he will be staying with the Tigers no matter what.
The recruit in question is Myson Johnson-Cook, a four-star running back who is currently tied in rating as the Tigers’ top commit in the 2027 class. As it stands, he is rated as the fifth-best running back in the country, as well as the fourth-best player from his home state of Illinois.
Needless to say, Johnson-Cook was a massive addition for the Tigers when he committed back in April, and, in fact, he was the Tigers’ third commit in their 2027 class under new head coach Alex Golesh. The top-rated back has proven to be a big help in the Tigers’ later recruiting efforts, as he has been quite outspoken on social media about his love for the program and belief that particular prospects would be best suited on the Plains.
Despite these proclamations, other programs have not been deterred from continuing their pursuit of Johnson-Cook, and Florida and Miami have notably made big-time pushes in recent weeks. However, Johnson-Cook is not planning on going anywhere.
"I feel really good about my commitment, 100 percent,” he said. “ I don't plan on flipping at all."
Of course, as is the nature of recruiting, anything can happen, but Johnson-Cook seems pretty set in his decision to come to Auburn. This is certainly good news for the Tigers, who have already lost three-star wide receiver Cedrick Simmons in a flip to Alabama, as well as three-star running back Kingston Miles in a flip to Missouri.
Johnson-Cook is set to join a rather stacked room of Auburn running backs that, barring any transfers or other additions, looks to include Bryson Washington, a Baylor transfer, Omar Mabson, former five-star prospect Alvin Henderson, USF transfer RB1 Nykahi Davenport and potentially a host of others.
In-class, Johnson-Cook is joined by Khamoni Williams, a three-star who, rather ironically, ended up in the Tigers’ 11th-ranked recruiting class by way of a flip from West Virginia. The Tigers appear to be at the tail end of their recruiting efforts for the summer, at least in their 2027 class, though Golesh has made a habit of surprising Tiger fans with commitments when they least expect it.
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Lane Kiffin Commends Auburn, Golesh Ahead of Return to 'Magical' Jordan-Hare
By Gunner Norene
Auburn Tigers on SI
The Auburn Tigers have several extremely important games in Alex Golesh’s first season on the Plains, but perhaps there are few that are more intriguing than their clash against LSU in October.
Considering it’s the latest renewal of a rivalry that hasn’t been played in three years, featuring an opposing head coach who has a somewhat dramatic history with Auburn, the game could be one of the most electric home atmospheres in recent memory.
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin has been one of the hottest names of the offseason after leaving Ole Miss and heading to Baton Rouge before the Rebels’ run in the College Football Playoff last year, and his appearance at the main podium during SEC Media Days was certainly among the most-anticipated moments heading into this week.
There always seems to be a question about Auburn, and, well, sure enough, Auburn and its new coaching staff were brought up once again on Thursday morning.
And this time, instead of addressing social media semantics with former head coach Hugh Freeze, like he did last year, Kiffin actually relayed a supportive message of confidence in Golesh and company.
“I think Auburn is a great program,” Kiffin said. “I think they have new energy with the coaching staff and a really good offensive system coming in and keeping DJ Durkin on defense.”
Kiffin hasn’t faced Auburn since Ole Miss defeated the Tigers three years ago in Freeze’s first season at the helm, but he hasn’t forgotten how challenging the environment at Jordan-Hare Stadium is, even amidst the worst stretch in program history.
“I think that they're going to be a really improved program, and that's a really hard place to play always and really gives people a lot of problems,” Kiffin said. “Kind of a magical stadium that magical things happen in.”
“That's one of many extremely competitive games we have, including really for the first time that you have five road conference games,” Kiffin added.
Kiffin’s return to Jordan-Hare Stadium comes a few years after an interesting series of events following the firing of Bryan Harsin, when he was one of Auburn’s top candidates during its coaching search.
Obviously, the Tigers went on to hire Freeze, but it recently became public that Kiffin was planning on taking the Auburn job before his daughter Landry convinced him to stay in Oxford. Since then, he has been anything but silent on Twitter, posting light-hearted jabs toward Freeze and the program as a whole.
Thus, his return to the Plains in the purple and gold will certainly be something to watch.
In terms of stakes on the field, the matchup between the two squads of Tigers could be huge for Auburn.
LSU comes into town during the toughest month of the season for Auburn, a four-game stretch that includes road tests to Tennessee, Georgia, and Ole Miss. If Auburn manages to beat Florida and Vanderbilt on its home turf, it’s a realistic possibility that the Tigers start the season 4-0 before heading to Knoxville and Athens.
From there, it’s likely that Auburn falls to the Volunteers and the Bulldogs to kick off October, which means that a win against LSU would avoid a three-game skid and push the Tigers to a 5-2 record before their trip to Oxford.
In terms of pure “vibes” and feeling amongst the fanbase, a home victory over one of college football’s most storied programs could inject levels amounts of optimism that Auburn hasn't seen in a half-decade.
It seems like forever since the Tigers have finished on the winning side of an important SEC game, especially in front of their home fans, so acheiving that in Golesh’s inaugural year would officially put Auburn back on track to national prominence.
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It's become painfully obvious that Auburn never moved Cam Coleman
By Andrew Hughes
Fly War Eagle
The Texas Longhorns' version of Cam Coleman will probably look unrecognizable to the one the Auburn Tigers had don the orange and blue over the past two years. It will hurt, Tiger fans. But it's coming whether you want it to or not.
We know Coleman is bulked up. We know that he and Texas quarterback Arch Manning looked natural together during the Longhorns' open spring football practice at DKR Stadium. Manning's description of the extent of Coleman's buy-in during the final day of 2026 SEC Football Media Days on Thursday was overwhelming, still.
"He's a great teammate. He works really hard. The good thing about Cam and how we built our relationship is he always wants to throw. He always wants to meet extra. And I think anytime you get a guy like that, it's easier for me to become close with. He's also a good guy. He can joke, and we can go eat. And I'm excited to have him on my team. That's for sure," Manning said of Coleman.
Coleman was, by many accounts, the complete opposite on the Plains. When I spoke to On3's Jake Crain in January after Coleman hit the portal, I heard the former Central Red Devils star wasn't giving his all in practice. SEC Network analyst and former Auburn center Cole Cubelic doesn't miss Coleman or Deuce Knight.
It's been a radical transformation of Coleman's character in a short period. It cannot speak enough to how ineffective fired ex-head coach Hugh Freeze was as the locker room leader that Coleman has become such a good receiver teammate for Manning in Austin.
Auburn should've gotten Cam Coleman's best, but didn't earn his respect
In hindsight, the Tigers didn't get anywhere close to Coleman's full respect. That's not to say he gave Auburn disrespect, but he certainly never felt incentivized to be his best like he is now. Coleman clearly didn't feel like the Tigers were good enough.
He was probably right. Key drops and the infamous 2025 Iron Bowl fumble aside, Coleman was still the team's top receiver last season. He was still tied for the most receiving touchdowns in 2024 with KeAndre Lambert-Smith. Coleman was by no stretch bad. And we all know he could've had much better stats if he had a better quarterback. Hell, both seasons he was at Auburn, he didn't have a definitive QB1 once the campaigns were in full swing. Coleman deserved more than QB battles bleeding into the season.
Even if there was a better QB, there wasn't enough talent at the tackle spots to keep said signal-caller safe in the backfield. Coleman was never going to get the deep balls he'll receive this season from a well-protected Manning.
The topic has been dissected every which way for months, but hearing Arch go into detail about how dialed-in Coleman is these days is a painful reminder that the Tigers may have never deserved Coleman.
More aptly put, Freeze never deserved to land Coleman, but had other people's money to spend to pay for him. Unfortunately, that money isn't coming back, and neither is Cam.
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SEC commish throws cold water on 'breakaway' notion, but league tension is high with Senate bill still up for grabs
By Ross Dellenger
Senior College Football Reporter
Within this waterfront Marriott hotel along an offshoot of Tampa Bay, college football's biggest media extravaganza unfolds.
In the main grand hallway, where hundreds of press members gather here for SEC football media days, a giant logo portraying the conference's three iconic letters — S-E-C — serves as the primary visual backdrop.
But adjacent to that display, behind a guarded curtain, the league's commissioner slumps into a chair as he scrolls through his cell phone during a rare quiet moment amidst the bustle.
"Mmm," he mutters as he glares at the screen. "More messages from Washington."
A topic at this year's event — even among the head football coaches themselves — is ongoing negotiations over a congressional bill to regulate college athletics and, perhaps even more notable, the SEC's potential plans, without revised federal legislation, to operate within its own silo: a conference-led governance model that's caused a stir across the country.
In fact, in a sitdown with Yahoo Sports, commissioner Greg Sankey says the frustration within his league over the absence of regulation and enforcement will "continue to simmer" and "if we're not able to deal with issues, then the boil starts."
Does that mean the SEC intends to execute a full-fledged breakaway from the NCAA umbrella, to remove itself from the College Football Playoff and NCAA championships, to only play itself in the regular season, hold its own postseason tournament and then, if another league's champion wants to duel, play them in a neutral-site game deemed as the new national championship?
No, Sankey says.
But it does mean that the SEC is exploring a self-governing model to create and then enforce its own rules related to eligibility, transfers and athlete compensation.
However, he's made clear in a recommendation to university presidents that it is not his preferred course of action. What is? A congressional bill.
While coaches parade across media day here, lawmakers and staff members in Washington, D.C. are continuing intense negotiations over revisions to the Protect College Sports Act in an effort to gain the support of the SEC and Big Ten. In fact, Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti, on the Hill this week, has been an active, in-person participant in the negotiations with the bill's co-authors: Sens. Ted Cruz, Maria Cantwell and Eric Schmitt. ACC commissioner Jim Phillips was scheduled to be on the Hill on Wednesday too.
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark and Sankey, from the enclave at media days, have participated by phone.
Without a bill, the SEC's conference-led governance model "takes on more interest," said Sankey. "But that doesn't mean something is poised to happen."
"If the headline remains that we're breaking away, that's uninformed," he told Yahoo Sports.
Those with knowledge of negotiations over the Senate bill have expressed renewed confidence in reaching an agreement with the two conferences over supporting the legislation — a key to the bill moving through the Senate, then the House and being signed by the president.
The latest discussions have centered mostly on changes to the revenue-share cap. Lawmakers are discussing the creation of a separate retention pool of money — $25 million in addition to the $21.3 million cap — that schools can use for the sole purpose of retaining athletes currently on their roster.
Cap adjustments are necessary, Sankey told Yahoo Sports, but he'd prefer to see finalized texts before commenting on the retention pool.
A litany of other issues languish as lawmakers and staff members work to reach a compromise on revisions, both between themselves — the Republican Cruz and Democrat Cantwell — and with leaders of the SEC and Big Ten.
For instance, an anti-expansion provision remains a fluid subject that, as of the latest discussions, would cap conference membership at 19 schools and require programs moving from one power conference to another to operate as an independent for five years. Such a move may expedite another wave of conference expansion as schools jockey to elevate themselves — such as ACC programs moving to the Big Ten or SEC — before the bill passes.
Lawmakers are expected to add to the legislation a provision that prohibits third-party entities, such as private equity firms, from creating a super league by poaching the top 20-30 brands in the country in a move to generate millions more in revenue. It was a request from the Big Ten and SEC.
Asked why he's so concerned about such entities forming a super league, Sankey told Yahoo Sports, "Because that's what their proposals contemplate. You can define it however you want to, but my view is, whether it's 20, 30, 70, 130 [schools], you are really creating a super league. There's no assurance that once that project is down the road and it can't generate the income it's promised for 130, that they don't scale back to something very different."
Sankey often refers to the SEC as its own "super league." And many within his conference believe that the SEC should not only govern itself but only compete against itself — a model spearheaded publicly by Georgia president Jere Morehead.
"l think we'd want to play with the schools following the rules," Morehead told Yahoo Sports earlier this year.
A conference-only governance model is rife with its own problems, let alone the revolutionary action of competitively leaving everyone behind. Sankey holds a background in college compliance and said a league enforcing its own rules would be "very" difficult. It's why many conferences, including the SEC, abandoned such a structure years ago and instead granted the NCAA control over regulation and enforcement.
When he joined the SEC, Sankey told then-commissioner Mike Slive that he did not want the role of "head of enforcement" because of the difficulties associated with the league penalizing its own member schools.
And what about a competitive breakaway? Starting your own playoff? Playing only yourself?
The ideas have been discussed among administrators as a "Plan B" if federal legislation doesn't pass. But, Sankey said, the plan may lead to political problems with the same entity, Congress, that officials are lobbying for assistance.
"It doesn't take much imagination to say we're going to leave [competitively] and you're in congressional hearings [answering for it]. I think that's unwise."
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