The Auburn Tigers are starting a new era this season once again under a new head coach, although the beginning of the Alex Golesh tenure has felt different than anything fans have seen over the last half decade.
Golesh has come in and won the fanbase over with his no-nonsense approach that puts accountability at the forefront, something that has clearly been missing in the last few years. Beyond the off field stuff, there may be reason to think he can come in and succeed right away, bringing more wins to The Plains than fans have seen in some time.
During an appearance on “The Next Round,” former Florida wide receiver and current SEC Network analyst Chris Doering talked about the continuity with the roster for Golesh. Doering said quarterback Byrum Brown is unlike anything a new coach hire has seen, and it could lead to not having as much of a learning curve.
"In terms of year #1, there's not a better team with continuity that I've ever seen before." – @ChrisDoering on Alex Golesh's first season at Auburn pic.twitter.com/6YEHiwCY7d
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) July 27, 2026
“In terms of year #1, there’s not a better team with continuity that I’ve ever seen before,” Doering said before talking about the coaching staff and the roster. “You keep D.J. Durkin and a lot of the defensive players, you’ve got continuity there. You bring Byrum Brown over and five or six of his receivers from USF, you bring his center over so there’s a lot of continuity there.”
Doering said Golesh could emerge as an early contender in his new role, pointing to a Week 3 matchup against Florida as a chance for either Golesh or Jon Sumrall to launch a successful first season.
Continuity wise, all of the South Florida transfers will have to prove they can get it done at the next level. Ultimately, the chemistry already established between Brown and his playmakers could outweigh the learning curve of going against tougher competition.
It will be a challenge, but chemistry is football’s toughest ingredient to develop, and Auburn already has an edge through continuity.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.
