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· collected 2026-08-20 · by Mark Long The Associated Press
Former USF coach Alex Golesh has taken over as Auburn's head coach, bringing with him dynamic quarterback Byrum Brown and a dozen of his former players from USF. The Tigers are expecting to improve under Golesh, who kept defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin on board and landed the nation's No. 9 portal class. Auburn has depth at running back, with Jeremiah Cobb returning for his senior season and Baylor transfer Bryson Washington joining him in the backfield. However, the team faces challenges replacing its entire offensive line, which lost several key players to the NFL.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-20,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Auburn University's football team, led by new head coach Alex Golesh, has received a boost with the arrival of former USF quarterback Byrum Brown. Brown, who threw for nearly 7,700 yards and 61 touchdowns in four years at USF, is expected to lead Auburn's offense after transferring from the school. He was joined by a dozen of his former teammates, including several receivers, who followed Golesh to Auburn. The team is hoping to improve its offense, which struggled under former coach Hugh Freeze, scoring 24 or fewer points in 17 of his 22 league games. Golesh has also kept defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin and brought in the nation's 9th-ranked portal class, giving Auburn a strong foundation for the season. With Brown at the helm, the team is optimistic about its chances despite being just 5-7 in their 2025 record.
Written for “Auburn Tigers College Football” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 1501 · logged 2026-08-21
Auburn
2025 record: 5-7
Expectations
Dynamic QB Byrum Brown, who followed coach Alex Golesh from USF, should give Auburn a chance to take a quick step forward in the stacked Southeastern Conference.
asserted
who → follow → Conference
Brown threw for nearly 7,700 yards and 61 TDs and ran for nearly 2,300 yards and 31 more scores in four years with the Bulls.
asserted
Brown → throw → Bulls
Now he’ll try to do the same at Auburn.
asserted
he → try → Auburn
A dozen of Brown’s former teammates followed Golesh to the Plains, including WRs Jeremiah Koger, Christian Neptune, Chas Nimrod and Keshaun Singleton.
asserted
dozen → follow → Koger
They could help fix the Tigers’ offensive woes that spanned the majority of former coach Hugh Freeze’s tenure.
uncertain
that → help → tenure
Auburn scored 24 or fewer points in 17 of Freeze’s 22 league games.
asserted
Auburn → score → games
Freeze missed on hand-picked portal QBs Payton Thorne (Michigan State) and Jackson Arnold (Oklahoma), and he went 1-12 against ranked teams.
asserted
he → miss → teams
Golesh is Auburn’s fourth head coach in the past seven seasons, but he might be starting with a better foundation than the others because he kept defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin and landed the nation’s No. 9 portal class.
uncertain
he → start → class
Strengths include RB depth and defensive continuity
Jeremiah Cobb returns for his senior season after running for 969 yards and five TDs in 2025.
asserted
Cobb → include → 2025
Baylor transfer Bryson Washington joins Cobb in the backfield after leading the Bears in rushing each of the last two seasons, finishing with 1,028 yards and 12 TDs in 2024 and 788 yards and six scores the following year.
asserted
Washington → join → 2024
Throw in Brown, and the Tigers could have one of the league’s most potent rushing attacks.
uncertain
Tigers → throw → attacks
Durkin, meanwhile, has just six newcomers on his two-deep depth chart.
asserted
Durkin → have → chart
Having that many returners with scheme experience should pay dividends.
asserted
Having → have → dividends
Weaknesses include a revamped O-line
Auburn is replacing its entire offensive line, although two of the newcomers — C Cole Best and RG Cole Skinner — came with Golesh from USF.
asserted
two → include → USF
The Tigers lost standout LT Xavier Chaplin to Florida State and fellow linemen Connor Lew, Jeremiah Wright, Dillon Wade, Izavion Miller and Mason Murphy to the NFL.
asserted
Tigers → lose → NFL
Auburn allowed 3 1/2 sacks a game last season, which ranked 15th in the SEC.
asserted
which → allow → SEC
