CBS Sports analyst Brad Crawford has released a bold projection for the Auburn Tigers' 2026 football campaign, forecasting a 7‑5 overall record that would snap a four‑year stretch of seven‑loss seasons.
Projected Schedule Highlights
The forecast envisions a strong start, with Auburn opening the season by winning its first five contests against Baylor, Southern Miss, Florida, Vanderbilt and Tennessee.
Conference play, however, brings a tougher slate; the Tigers are slated to drop games at home to Georgia on Oct. 17 and to LSU, while also facing road defeats at Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Alabama.
A win over Arkansas at home and a victory against Samford on Nov. 21 are expected to round out the schedule, leaving the team with a final ledger of seven wins and five losses.
What the Record Means
Crawford notes that such a record would not only improve on previous seasons but also signal that the culture and offensive philosophy instilled by new head coach Alex Golesh are beginning to take hold.
The projection also highlights historical context: Auburn has lost six straight games to Alabama since 2019, and its most recent triumph over Georgia came in 2017 at Jordan‑Hare Stadium, a span that includes eight consecutive defeats to the Bulldogs.
If the forecast proves accurate, the Tigers would finish ahead of several SEC counterparts including Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Missouri and Mississippi State, underscoring the competitive shift within the conference.