Spring ball on the horizon
For Auburn head coach Alex Golesh, it has been nothing but recruiting, retention, and staff hires since his arrival.
Adding 39 players through the transfer portal and 21 in the 2026 high school class, Auburn, ranked 13th nationally in recruiting by 247Sports, has its roster nearly set. Golesh noted last week, speaking with reporters at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, that he left a few spots open for JUCO additions and late-blooming high schoolers.
But now he can turn his attention to football – on-field, offense-defense football – which has to be a nice feeling for him. Golesh comes across as an old-school football coach: a guy who loves the game, who cares about his players, and who just wants to win football games while punishing the guys on the other side.
Auburn will begin spring practice on March 17 and conclude with traditional A-Day festivities on April 18. I’m eager to see what the Tigers will look like come spring.
Big hoops game coming up
Years ago, one would never imagined the magnitude of college basketball in Alabama. Now, the Iron Bowl of Basketball is one of the most anticipated matchups of the season.
Last year, Auburn and Alabama played two thrilling contests. The Tigers traveled to Tuscaloosa as the top-ranked team in the country and left with a 94-85 win over No. 2 Alabama. The Crimson Tide returned the favor in Neville Arena to close out the season as Mark Sears drained a buzzer-beater floater in overtime to secure a 93-91 win.
Saturday, the two teams meet again. No, they are not ranked No. 1 and No. 2 this time, but it will be a bloodbath nonetheless. Can Auburn contain Alabama’s prolific backcourt duo of Labaron Philon Jr. and Aden Holloway? Will the Tigers start strong behind a raucous home crowd, unlike the last two outings?
That remains to be seen.
Bediako situation
Speaking of Alabama, the Charles Bediako saga is still evolving.
According to Mike Rodack of Bama247, Bediako’s attorneys filed a motion in Tuscaloosa County court to postpone his preliminary injunction hearing, originally scheduled for Friday, February 6, to February 16-18. The attorneys also sent the NCAA a list of admissions regarding the eligibility of international professional basketball players, including Auburn’s Filip Jovic.
Who knows what will happen next?
College Football Playoff
The College Football Playoff announced dates for next season’s 12-team playoff format on Tuesday.
Per On3 Sports, the quarterfinals will kick off on Wednesday, Dec. 30, with the Fiesta Bowl, while the Cotton Bowl, Peach Bowl, and Rose Bowl will be held two days later on Friday, Jan. 1, 2027. The national semifinals will then follow two weeks after that, beginning with the Orange Bowl set for Thursday, Jan. 14, and the Sugar Bowl set for Friday, Jan. 15. The 2027 CFP National Championship Game will follow 10 days later on Monday, Jan. 25, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Why stretch this out further than it needs to be? The season could easily conclude in December, or, at the very latest, the first week of January.
What times we live in.
Until next time… TG
