Auburn football's lack of success on the field since Gus Malzahn's firing in 2020 has caused the program to become a laughingstock to the eyes of many. Despite spending nearly $12 million on NIL in 2024 and likely spending close to the allowable $20.5 million in 2025 for football's sake, AU is now being branded a "basketball school."
And not just by anyone. The Associated Press's John Marshall said it while explaining the publication's decision to hand Bruce Pearl and Rick Pitino the AP coach of the year.
"Bruce Pearl has turned Auburn into a basketball school and may have his best team yet. Rick Pitino has done what he does best at St. John’s, ushering in a quick turnaround," Marshall wrote.
"Their successes this season led to the first tie in the 58-year history of The Associated Press men’s college basketball coach of the year award."
Bryan Harsin and Hugh Freeze's four-year losing streak may seem like it's destroying the football progam's reputation. But these kinds of negative headlines could set up a great revival once the football program gets it together.
Freeze, in particular, is being set up for a redemption arc for the ages. John Cohen will look like a genius for sticking with the Oxford, Mississippi native -- he didn't even consider a change at head football coach -- after many pushed for Freeze's exit after a second straight sub-.500 season.
Still, until that happens, these types of statements will become the norm. Even when AU is lauded for success in basketball, it is shamed for its failures in football.
At the end of the day, America tunes into the Auburn Tigers. Negative coverage is coverage nonetheless.
The Final Four is better for having Auburn in it. College football will be better when the Tigers are winning week after week on the gridiron.