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Alex Golesh reacts to College Football Playoff expanding to 24 teams

The Auburn football head coach shared his thoughts on the latest news.
ByMary Kate Hughes
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Oct 31, 2026; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Alex Golesh walks on the field at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium prior to the game against the Mississippi Rebels. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Oct 31, 2026; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Alex Golesh walks on the field at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium prior to the game against the Mississippi Rebels. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Auburn Tigers are rolling once again after a 26-23 victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks, but they'll have a challenge this weekend on the road when they face the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Auburn football head coach Alex Golesh told the media in his press conference he was in the midst of preparing for the game when the latest college football news came in and it was announced that the College Football Playoffs will expand to 24 teams in 2027.

“I don’t know if I’ve got any," Golesh said, when asked his thoughts on the expansion. "I think the assumption has been for quite a while that it was going to go to 24 teams. So, I guess, great. I don’t really have a super opinion.”

In the midst of a year-one rebuild, the College Football Playoffs are not top of mind for the Auburn football program, which is now one win away from being bowl eligible for the first time in three seasons. But one implication of the 24-team playoff hits closer to home as it was also announced that conference championships for Power 4 conferences would be going away with the expanded playoff.

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“The SEC title game not existing, probably cross that bridge when we get there, too,” Golesh said. “So, I just haven’t thought about it.”

The last time Auburn played in the SEC Championship game was in 2017, when the Tigers took on the Georgia Bulldogs and suffered a 28-7 loss. Prior to that game, the Tigers beat Missouri in the conference title game in 2013, and also beat South Carolina in 2010. Since the conference championship game began in 1992, Auburn has appeared in the game six times and won three times.

Though the Tigers will not be looking to compete in the College Football Playoffs this year, with 24 teams in the mix it certainly changes the conversation for next season. As Golesh continues to return Auburn to its former glory, a CFP berth could be a lot closer than the Auburn Family thinks.

“More opportunity for everybody, so let’s ride,” Golesh said. 

Auburn football returns to action this weekend with a road trip to Starkville for an 11 a.m. kickoff against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

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