The Auburn Tigers of recent history were not in a better place than the large contingent from Alex Golesh's USF Bulls program making its way to the Plains during the 2026 season, according to CBS Sports' Brandon Marcello.
Marcello called Auburn "USF North," but relayed the sad reality that the Bulls have been a more exemplary College Football team in the NIL/rev-share era. Since 2022, USF has won three more games than AU, despite having a one-win season during that timespan.
The main worries Marcello listed? Cam Coleman's departure and the task of Keshaun Singleton, Jeremiah Koger, Chas Nimrod, and/or Christian Neptune. Marcello did hype up Bulls transfer Byrum Brown's arrival under center, though.
Marcello also ranked the Tigers as the No. 12 team in his SEC football power rankings, ahead of just the Kentucky Wildcats, Vanderbilt Commodores, Arkansas Razorbacks, and Mississippi State Bulldogs.
"Auburn will look more like USF North than the Auburn of old under Alex Golesh, and that's not a bad thing. Quarterback transfer Byrum Brown will partner with returning RB Jeremiah Cobb to mold one of the more underrated backfields in the SEC, but can the Tigers get the production they need to replace the upside of a Cam Coleman with a trio of WR transfers from USF? Auburn must also replace its entire offensive line," Marcello wrote.
Hugh Freeze and Bryan Harsin were successful before Auburn, but Alex Golesh brings a more proven resume
It's true that both Bryan Harsin and Hugh Freeze brought successful resumes to East Central Alabama, just like Golesh. You'd be in denial comparing the success Harsin had in the pre-COVID-19 era, and Freeze had in 2021 and for two-thirds of the 2022 season, to what Golesh and Co. accomplished in 2025 down in Tampa and coming to the conclusion that it's similar.
Golesh proved he can pay for a roster that isn't as much as SEC schools like the University of Florida, but still outgame the Gators in the "Swamp." USF was a legitimate CFP contender until mid-November, seeing the death knell come in the form of a 41-38 loss to the Navy Midshipmen. That was the Bulls' second loss in three weeks. Losing to the Miami Hurricanes would've been forgivable if not accompanied by losses to the Memphis Tigers and Navy.
Freeze and Harsin's success were in a different era than the ones they were tasked to lead AU into. Golesh has been successful with big money on the table, and in the SEC during that timeframe as Josh Heupel's offensive coordinator with the Tennessee Volunteers.
There's every reason to have hope as an Auburn Tiger fan. In the bizarro world we live in, it's because AU is now "USF North."