The Auburn Tigers took the stage at SEC Media Days on Tuesday, and the excitement around the program is only continuing to build ahead of 2026.

As head coach Alex Golesh enters his first season at the helm, there are numerous questions surrounding the program.

How will quarterback Byrum Brown perform in the SEC? Can the offensive line hold up with five new starters? What does a successful season look like in 2026? Are the dark days of Auburn football officially behind us?

Obviously, it’s impossible to know in mid-July, but just about the only thing a head coach and three of his players can do before fall camp begins is “win the press conference.”

That’s exactly what Auburn’s four representatives did on Tuesday. Let’s take a look at four takeaways from the Tigers’ stint at SEC Media Days and what it means for the upcoming season.

Golesh’s vision for Year 1 is clear

Golesh was asked multiple times about his goals, expectations and definition of success that he would like to achieve in year one on the Plains.

He didn’t give a specific win total. He didn’t claim Auburn had to be in College Football Playoff discussions at the end of the season, and unlike his predecessor Hugh Freeze said last summer, he didn’t say Auburn simply needs to make a bowl game.

Instead, his response was much broader, and somewhat deeper, but it’s exactly what the program needs after five consecutive seven-loss seasons.

“I don't set goals. … We set standards as a program,” Golesh said. “I think a successful year one, as I mentioned earlier, is if we can leave year one and have a foundation of who we are, our identity, proof of concept offensively, defensively, so we can continue to recruit to that identity.”

Golesh used the word “identity” countless times throughout his rounds with the media in Tampa, Florida; it may sound simple, but it’s something that Auburn has lacked for the last half-decade.

His vision for the program is clear: pay attention to detail, show proof-of-concept on the field that matches what the staff is selling on the recruiting trail and lay a foundation that cements Auburn in national prominence for years to come.

If the Tigers can do that, success will come along with it.

“The wins will take care of themselves as long as our identity is what it is. If we are physically and mentally tough. If we are detailed. If we are player-led. If we are connected as a team. We win in the margins,” Golesh said. “If we take care of what we have to take care of from a detail standpoint, I love where our talent is. We are plenty talented enough to go win every single game.”

Offensive line seems to be coming along

Auburn’s offensive line has certainly been one of the biggest question marks surrounding the program this offseason, as it will boast five brand new starters in the trenches in 2026.

The Tigers’ offensive line was one of the worst in the SEC a year ago, ranking last in the conference in sacks per game with 3.58, even with future fourth-rounder Connor Lew at center and one of the highest-rated tackles in the portal in Xavier Chaplin.

Now, Auburn’s top six linemen from last year either went to the NFL Draft or hit the transfer portal, and Golesh has completely rebuilt the room. Despite an expectation of improvement this season, Golesh wasn’t so sure how nine transfers and multiple high school signees would gel.

In fact, he even asked for prayers at a press conference during spring practice early in the offseason. However, he seems pleased with how the unit is starting to make strides and mesh together.

“It probably doesn’t get talked about enough that those dudes are on the same page,” Golesh said. “I give Cole Best a ton of credit because he’s worked extremely hard to bring that group together. But where it was in early spring, where I was ready to pull my hair out. I think I asked for prayers with our local media. Some of those prayers have been answered. We’ve still got a long way to go in terms of the work that needs to go in, but I feel really good going into fall camp."

If they can continue to grow closer heading into August, especially with a run-first offensive scheme and Brown under center, the Tigers will benefit tremendously this season.

QB1 is exactly what Auburn needs right now

Brown represents something that Auburn fans haven’t seen in a long time.

The Tigers haven’t had a true, solidified, confident “QB1” since 2019, maybe even 2018, with Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham. They’ve lacked a proven commander at the quarterback position who has previously demonstrated an ability to perform at an elite level.

That could very well change in 2026. The way that Brown carried himself and answered questions throughout Auburn’s stint at SEC Media Days is exactly what the program needs right now.

Even further than his outstanding stat line at USF in 2025, during which he recorded over 3,000 passing yards, 1,000 rushing yards and 42 total touchdowns, the air surrounding Brown simply feels different than the previous offseasons with Jackson Arnold and Payton Thorne.

Confidence is a word that keeps coming to mind, even for a player who has spent four years in the Group of 6 and is entering the SEC for the first time.

“Obviously, you could say a chip on our shoulder,” Brown said of the former USF players who transferred into the SEC. “We know we're being looked down upon, but we don't really take it any type of way. We just put our head down, go to work, be the best ‘us’ that we can be every single day.”

This real, authentic confidence could lead Auburn to success that this fanbase hasn’t experienced since the Gus Malzahn era.

“We just want Auburn to be its best and want to leave it better than we found it, and that's the plan — bring Auburn back to where it should be,” Brown continued. “That’s been it since day one. So, I can't wait to be a leader of that, but everyone else can't wait to continue to do that, as well.”

---

Gunner Norene | Sports Editor

Gunner Norene, junior in journalism, has been with The Auburn Plainsman since Fall 2024. Norene previously served as a Sports Writer. He is currently serving as the Sports Editor.