July 16–19, 2026 — Auburn, Alabama
With less than two months until the first kickoff, the Auburn Tigers football program is generating significant buzz heading into the first season of the Alex Golesh era.
CBS Sports projects Auburn to earn a 7-5 record and a Gasparilla Bowl bid in year one — a realistic expectation for a program in year one of a coaching transition. Golesh, who arrived from South Florida, has consistently emphasized that Auburn doesn’t need to be rebuilt from scratch, pointing to the school’s NIL infrastructure, world-class facilities, and loyal fanbase.
The Tigers open September 5 against the Baylor Bears at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in the Aflac Kickoff Game — a game through which Auburn players will share in a landmark $6 million NIL deal. Auburn defeated Baylor 38-24 on the road to open the 2025 season.
The 2026 schedule features a 9-game SEC slate (a new structural shift eliminating cupcake weeks), home games against LSU and Florida, and the Iron Bowl on November 28 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa — a chance to end a six-game losing streak to Alabama.
The transfer portal brought in 30-plus newcomers, with key figures including Stanford transfer OL Jack Leyrer and Ole Miss transfer edge rusher Da’Shawn Womack. Recruiting for 2027 is also going well, with Auburn holding 26 commitments and ranking in the top 10 nationally.
Source: Yellowhammer News
From the Opelika Weekly News Digest — July 14–20, 2026 | Compiled by Viktor AI for Opelika Daily News
