In today's edition of Auburn Tigers News, the basketball program finally earns the #1 ranking in the AP Poll, and Auburn football safety CJ Johnson withdraws from the transfer portal
After a 15-1 start that has built up the best resume in college basketball this season, the Auburn Tigers are finally ranked #1 in the AP Poll. For the past six weeks, Auburn basketball has been lurking at the #2 spot behind Tennessee, but after the Vols suffered a blowout at #8 Florida, the Tigers have risen to the top.
This is the second time in program history that the Tigers have been ranked #1, the first being in the 2021-2022 season when Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler were on the Plains. It is the first time Auburn has been ranked #1 in both the AP Poll and the coaches poll— in 2021-22 that spot was held by Gonzaga.
"I'd rather be No. 1 at the end of the year, but we'll take it when we can get it," Pearl said Saturday after the team's 66-63 win at South Carolina, per Auburn Undercover. "... There's an opportunity for us, I'm glad we're going to get it."
Auburn football safety CJ Johnson withdraws from the transfer portal
In the football world, there is more movement in the transfer portal. Auburn football safety CJ Johnson entered the transfer portal on December 23, but has withdrawn his name this week and will return to the Plains for another season.
In his two years in orange and blue, Johnson has yet to see game action for the Tigers. The Katy, Texas, native was ranked as a 3-star safety out of high school and committed to Auburn football in June of 2023 as a member of the 2023 recruiting class. Johnson will battle to break into the rotation in 2025.