Auburn’s 2026 campaign kicks off on September 12, when the Tigers take the field at 6:45 p.m. CT on the SEC Network to meet the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles. The matchup arrives after a season‑opening victory over Baylor that was moved to Atlanta, giving the team an early confidence boost.
The series favors Auburn historically, with an 18‑5 record and a four‑game winning streak against the Eagles. That backdrop adds a layer of expectation for a program that is still adjusting to life in the SEC under new offensive coordinator Alex Golesh.
A New Era of Balance
At the heart of the new‑look attack is quarterback Byrum Brown, the only player in recent memory to combine 3,000 passing yards with 1,000 rushing yards in a single season. His dual‑threat ability is expected to fuel a ground‑centric scheme that leans heavily on emerging backs.
Among the candidates for the second‑string running back role, Omar Mabson and Bryson Washington are viewed as the leading options, while Jeremiah Cobb is projected to shoulder the primary workload. The backfield reshuffle comes as the team replaces departed NFL draftees Keyron Crawford and Keldric Faulk with newcomers Cody Sigler and Da’Shawn Womack.
Defensively, the Tigers will see fresh faces in Cody Sigler and Da’Shawn Womack, who are slated to fill the gaps left by Crawford and Faulk. Their integration is seen as a key factor in tightening a unit that struggled in the previous season.
The game against Southern Mississippi is largely viewed as a tune‑up, a chance for Brown and the offense to find rhythm before the high‑stakes SEC showdown with Florida later in the month. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see whether the new pieces can click under Golesh’s guidance.