Even though Auburn football swung and missed on the recruiting trail for 5-star defensive lineman Kamarion Franklin, who committed to his home-state school, Ole Miss, on August 19 over Tennessee, Miami, and the Plains, the decision to join the Rebels will turn out to be “ultimately good” for AU and the rest of the SEC outside of the conference’s bourgeoise (Alabama and Georgia) according to Rivals’ Bryan Matthews.
“It’s been an interesting month for 5-star defensive linemen in the SEC,” Matthews prefaced before saying, “It started Aug. 1 when Dylan Stewart chose South Carolina over Ohio State and Georgia. Just this past week Williams Nwaneri chose Missouri over Georgia and Oklahoma, and Kamarion Franklin chose Ole Miss over Auburn and Tennessee. It’s just a small sample size but I think it’s part of a trend that’s going to be good for college football and ultimately good for Auburn.
“Of course, it would have been better for Auburn had Franklin chose the Tigers, but having elite talent spread out more among other SEC schools rather than just a couple is a benefit to every school not named Alabama or Georgia.”
Auburn football to benefit from college football’s changes
Most changes the NCAA has implemented since COVID-19 rocked the sports world have benefitted the Auburn football program either directly or indirectly. NIL adds value to towns that take their school’s sports seriously, and the transfer portal’s nearly constant waivers allowing immediate eligibility allow players to quickly seek a spotlight in a lovely (some would say loveliest) village like Auburn that naturally has one. An expanded College Football Playoff explains itself. Even an improved SEC with Texas and Oklahoma chips away at the conference’s goliaths like Alabama, Georgia, and occasionally, LSU.
All in all, the future of the sport is secure, and it’s even more secure in the SEC. Just less so in Athens and Tuscaloosa.
What more could you ask for?