The Auburn Tigers are turning heads this offseason, and the latest national rankings show they're earning respect as they build for a promising 2026 campaign. After completing their first spring practice under new head coach Alex Golesh, USA TODAY's Paul Myerberg released his post-spring top 138 re-rank, placing Auburn at No. 61 overall. That's a solid spot that puts the Tigers ahead of several SEC rivals, including Kentucky and Arkansas. However, they still trail fellow conference teams like South Carolina, Mississippi State, Missouri, and Vanderbilt, all of which sit outside the top 30. In a twist, USF—Golesh's former program—checks in just one spot ahead at No. 60.

What makes this ranking particularly exciting for Auburn fans is the blend of new talent and veteran experience coming together. The offense will look almost entirely revamped, with a fresh quarterback room, a reloaded wide receiver corps, and a new starting offensive line. The key returner to watch is running back Jeremiah Cobb, who rushed for 969 yards and five touchdowns last season. On defense, Auburn boasts a veteran unit led by linebackers Xavier Atkins and Elijah Melendez, plus a talented secondary featuring Kaleb Harris, Eric Winters, and Sylvester Smith-Reed. This mix of youth and experience could be the recipe for a breakout season.

The Tigers will kick off their 2026 season in a major spotlight game, facing the Baylor Bears in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium. That's just the start of a grueling nine-game SEC schedule that includes heavyweight matchups against Florida, Tennessee, LSU, Ole Miss, Georgia, and Alabama. If Auburn can gel quickly under Golesh, they have the pieces to surprise some people—and climb even higher in the rankings by season's end.