Run Game Roulette: Auburn’s Quest for RB2 Glory
Auburn’s new head coach Alex Golesh has declared his offense will be anchored by the running game, but one key role remains undecided: the RB2 spot behind senior returner Jeremiah Cobb. Bryson Washington, a Baylor transfer, seemed poised for the role after a solid 788-yard, six-touchdown campaign, but injuries have sidelined him through both spring and fall camp. That has opened the door for sophomore Omar Mabson, who flashed big-play potential during fall drills despite only 16 carries last season. Also in the mix is senior transfer Tae Meadows (695 yards, six TDs at Troy) bringing veteran savvy, while true freshman Nykahi Davenport from USF and five-star holdover Alvin Henderson linger as dark-horse RB3 options. Golesh’s plan to rotate backs on specific drives means no one is guaranteed early touches, turning Auburn’s backfield competition into a high-stakes audition.
In a scene more dramatic than a reality show reunion, Auburn’s running backs have been told to audition like angry suitors vying for Prince Cobb’s favor. Washington limps in bruised but hopeful, Mabson bursts in with midseason highlight reels, and Meadows polishes off his résumé with a side of “I’ve been doing this for years.” Freshmen Davenport and Henderson hover in the wings like overanxious understudies, hoping not to trip over their own shoelaces. It’s a twisting rollercoaster of turf and cleats—next up, the coaches will likely invite the waterboys for a cameo because why not?
Bracketing the Tigers: Auburn’s Hoop Highs and Lows
After a Final Four run in 2024 and an NIT title in 2025, ESPN’s Myron Medcalf projects Auburn basketball’s 2026-27 ceiling at 25 wins and a round-of-32 exit, with a floor of 20 wins and another NCAA miss. The big question remains replacing Keyshawn Hall’s 19.3 PPG and 38% 3-point mark. Returning scorers Tahaad Pettiford and Kevin Overton provide continuity, while new additions—7-footers Narcisse Ngoy and Bukky Oboye, sharpshooter Mantas Rubštavičius, plus Thomas Dowd, Owen Freeman, Caleb Williams—promise size and range. Auburn’s true offensive identity will emerge only after exhibition and preseason showdowns reveal how this revamped roster meshes.
Behold ESPN’s crystal ball: it gleams a fuzzy image of 25 wins, then smudges into a gloomy 20-win abyss. Somewhere in between, Bruce Pearl’s replacement son, Steven, hopes the French giants and Lithuanian sharpshooters he collected from the transfer portal actually pass the ball instead of posing for Instagram. If the Tigers can find a Keyshawn Hall clone in one of those seven-foot behemoths, college basketball will shake. If not, Auburn fans can always flip a coin—heads you dance in March, tails you watch NIT reruns.
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