As with almost every new head coach going into their first year, optimism is high for Alex Golesh and Auburn football. The 41-year-old coach was hired in hopes of turning the Tigers’ program around after five straight losing seasons, and through the transfer portal, brought in a slew of talented offensive players while retaining many of the defensive players who made the Tigers so good last season on that side of the ball.
But no matter how much preparation goes into the season and how many talented players are on the field, reality hits once the game is live, and the scenarios played out throughout the preseason become either true or false.
So, what is the best-case scenario for the Tigers in 2026, and what is the worst? Let’s take a look at both sides.Â
Best Case
Under D.J. Durkin, Auburn’s defense stays as one of the top units in the country, but this time, the offense is able to keep up with the additions of quarterback Byrum Brown and a plethora of wide receivers, including four from South Florida, who fill the void left by Cam Coleman, Malcolm Simmons and others.Â
The Tigers’ offense turns into an asset, not a liability, after costing Auburn several games last season and, eventually, costing Hugh Freeze his job. Jeremiah Cobb and Bryson Washington form a one-two punch at running back, taking pressure off of Brown to win games by himself and forcing defenses to respect both the run and pass.
Worst Case
The transition from the American Conference to the SEC proves too much for Brown, the USF wide receivers and, more importantly, Golesh. While he has experience as an offensive coordinator in the conference, serving as a head coach is another thing. He’s no longer preparing for the likes of Tulsa and Rice each week, but now LSU and Georgia.Â
As for Brown, the same is true: the defenses in the SEC are light-years ahead of those in the American. He has the talent, as do Keshaun Singleton, Jeremiah Koger, Chas Nimrod and others, but putting together weekly performances against some of the top defenses in the nation is a massive challenge.Â
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