2026 started ideally for Auburn Tiger fans: the Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs were both eliminated from the College Football Playoff on New Year's Day. Alabama took an embarrassing 38-3 loss to the Indiana Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl, while Georgia lost a 39-34 instant classic to the Ole Miss Rebels in the Sugar Bowl.
The Tide's loss was the sweetest. Alabama looked outclassed in every aspect in Pasadena, proving that Kalen DeBoer's program never deserved a spot in the CFP's 12-team field from the beginning.
As for the Dawgs, UGA couldn't keep up with Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who established himself as the University of Mississippi's all-time legend with a 362-yard, two-touchdown effort on Thursday night. It seemed the fix was in for Ole Miss as the refs seemingly refused to end the game at the end. Multiple lateral attempts on multiple drives in the final seconds were stifled by the Rebs, though. Lane Kiffin made Ole Miss a rival to the Auburn family, but Pete Golding's run right now, taking over the team after they were ditched by the former for a rival, makes the Rebs infinitely more likable.
Ole Miss now faces the Miami Hurricanes in the Fiesta Bowl, while Indiana and the Oregon Ducks rematch in the Peach Bowl. The winners will give the sport a first-time champion in the CFP era.
Auburn can replicate Ole Miss and Indiana models
Alex Golesh has already been compared to Curt Cignetti, though in a purely speculative manner so far. His circumstances are far different than Golding but what has made the latter successful is something Golesh can replicate.
Golesh needs a stud quarterback like Heisman-winner Fernando Mendoza or Chambliss, two stars from lower divisions who successfully made the jump to the "Power 2" conferences in 2025. Maybe that's Byrum Brown. Maybe not.
Either way, the job of restoring glory on the Plains after the lows of the Hugh Freeze and Bryan Harsin eras isn't impossible for Golesh. If he plays his cards right, like Cignetti and Golding have, perhaps he too can take down Alabama and/or Georgia.