Auburn Tigers
SEC program. Coined the phrase "elite loser" under Hugh Freeze, who would blame players in post-game press conferences. Went through Hugh Freeze and DJ Durkin in 2025: lost 6 of 7, four straight close losses to decent teams, couldn't reach 11 points against Kentucky, lost a winnable Iron Bowl. Alex Golesh hired as new head coach.
2026 Amen Corner: at Georgia → home vs. LSU → at Ole Miss (mid-October).
Current Show Posture
As of 2026-09-30:
Auburn sits in the SEC's bowl-upside tier, which is progress without being trust. Alex Golesh supplies a clear offensive vision and the schedule is lighter in aggregate than several peers, but the road split, new line, uncertain receivers, and loss of Keldric Faulk leave too many proof points for a contender call.
The year-one standard is whether the offense becomes coherent enough to exploit the softer portions of the draw while the pass rush finds a new headliner. Auburn can make a bowl and steal a game above its tier; it cannot yet promise either.
The 2026-09-30 Week 5 Picks - Alabama-Mississippi State and the SEC Slate discussion adds a current checkpoint: auburn and tennessee both need a stabilizing result. This updates the season read without treating one game or preview as a final verdict.
Evolution Timeline
- 2026-08-09 — Auburn entered the bowl-upside tier with clear line, receiver, and pass-rush questions. 2026-08-09 The SEC Thick Upper Crust Makes Seven Teams Plausible Playoff Entrants
- 2026-09-02 — The Baylor–Auburn pick turns on whether Auburn can keep the Bears’ running game and the Golesh offense from dictating the terms of play. 2026-09-02 Auburn must contain Baylor’s run threat
Running Takes
- 2026-09-30: 2026-09-30 Auburn and Tennessee both need a stabilizing result — Auburn and Tennessee both need a stabilizing result.
- 2026-08-13: 2026-08-13 Auburn Has a Thin Margin for Error Under Alex Golesh — imported system must work quickly
- 2026-08-09: 2026-08-09 The SEC Thick Upper Crust Makes Seven Teams Plausible Playoff Entrants — Auburn remains a bowl-upside rebuild with line and pass-rush questions.
- 2026-04-23: 2026-04-23 Golesh Is a Football Guy First — Cole Cubelic loves the new HC hire
- 2026-04-23: 2026-04-23 No Two Players Save Auburn — Cole's caught-on-mic frustration with the Cam Coleman / Deuce Knight savior framing
- 2026-04-21: Nate Tice on D.J. Durkin's front: "did everything," frustrating to grade Crawford and Faulk
- 2026-03-26: 2026-03-26 Auburn Can't Seem to Fix the QB Position — QB is still the defining gap
- 2026-09-02: 2026-09-02 Auburn must contain Baylor’s run threat — The Baylor–Auburn pick turns on whether Auburn can keep the Bears’ running game and the Golesh offense from dictating the terms of play.
Episode Appearances
- 2026-09-30 Week 5 Picks - Alabama-Mississippi State and the SEC Slate — Ty and Dan work through the Week 5 slate and use Alabama–Mississippi State as a lens on the conference’s early hierarchy.
- 2026-09-02 Week 1 Preview - Secure the Chute Saturday — Ty and Dan open the 2026 in-season run with “Secure the Chute Saturday,” a frame for entering Week 1 without pretending the offseason can tell them exactly what the teams will be.
- 2026-08-13 SEC Preview Part 3 - LSU, Arkansas, Texas A&M and the Rest — Golesh, Byron Brown, and narrow bowl margin
- 2026-03-26 Missing Pieces - What Your College Football Team Can't Seem To Fix
- 2026-04-09 CFB Masters - Elite Coaches, QBs, Losers, and Schedule Gauntlets
- 2026-04-21 NFL Draft Preview with Nate Tice
- 2026-04-23 SEC Vibe Check with Cole Cubelic
- 2026-08-09 SEC Preview Part 1 - Contender Tiers, Thick Upper Crust and Schedule Gauntlets