Auburn has decided not to take part in the 2025–26 college football bowl season, per On3’s Justin Hokanson, even though the Tigers were one of several 5–7 teams eligible for consideration. Hokanson explained the reasoning, noting that with a coaching change, staff adjustments, roster uncertainty, and players already shifting into offseason mode, accepting a bowl bid “simply wouldn’t make sense.”
On3’s Brett McMurphy previously reported that if Kansas State chose to decline its bowl invite, the next options for 5–7 teams — based on multi-year APR rankings from 2020–24 — would be Rice, Auburn, UCF, Mississippi State, and Florida State. These rankings are not publicly available.
With Auburn having just hired Alex Golesh as its new head coach, asking interim coach and defensive coordinator DJ Durkin to lead one more game would have offered little long-term benefit. Golesh is focused on keeping key assistants such as Vontrell King-Williams and working to secure important recruits like Deuce Knight, who is facing heavy interest from Ole Miss. A bowl trip, in the middle of these efforts, would only add complications.
Even so, there is an argument against Auburn’s withdrawal.
Why some fans are frustrated
The decision didn’t do much to consider the fanbase. Auburn wasn’t guaranteed a nearby bowl game, but options like the Birmingham Bowl or Music City Bowl felt realistic given past placements. A postseason appearance — even one led by upperclassmen seeking extra reps or boosting their NIL value — could have provided fans with something meaningful after several disappointing seasons. Auburn has played only two postseason games since 2021.
While skipping the bowl won’t change the program’s long-term trajectory, it still stings for supporters. Sometimes, a bowl game can simply serve as a thank-you to a loyal fanbase that hasn’t had much to celebrate in recent years.