Joel Klatt drew plenty of criticism after placing Auburn alongside Texas A&M in his comparison of “popcorn programs” — teams that occasionally rise into the spotlight but struggle to maintain long-term consistency.
While the analogy made for a clever soundbite, Auburn supporters argue it fits Texas A&M far more than a program that ranks among the top 20 in all-time wins and has a much stronger championship history.
During an appearance on The Next Round, Klatt delivered his controversial assessment of the Tigers, claiming Auburn and Texas A&M share similar struggles with consistency and expectations.
“Auburn reminds me a lot of Texas A&M in that there’s not a ton of consistency, but the expectations are always that they’re going to be great… They’re a popcorn program just like A&M. They’re an average program that pops up every once in a while,” Klatt said.
However, Auburn’s history tells a different story. Unlike Texas A&M, the Tigers have won national championships in the modern era, with recognized titles in 1957 and 2010. The program also claims additional championships from 1958, 1983, 1993, and 2004.
Recent success has been kinder to Texas A&M than previous decades, especially after hiring Mike Elko, but Auburn’s overall résumé remains stronger when looking beyond the past few seasons.
Klatt overlooks Auburn’s success under Tuberville and Malzahn
Klatt’s comments appear to dismiss some of Auburn’s strongest stretches in recent history.
The Tigers enjoyed several successful seasons during the 2010s, including a national championship run under Gene Chizik in 2010. After Chizik’s departure, Gus Malzahn guided Auburn to another championship appearance in 2013 and reached the SEC Championship Game in 2017.
Malzahn’s Auburn teams were far from irrelevant, consistently competing in the SEC and regularly contending against elite programs. The same could be said for Tommy Tuberville’s tenure, when Auburn routinely finished near the top of the conference and went undefeated during the 2004 season.
Texas A&M, meanwhile, has struggled to find sustained success since joining the SEC. Since 2000, Aggies coaches have rarely produced consistent double-digit win seasons, with brief moments of success surrounded by years of disappointment.
The difference between the programs is clear: Texas A&M has often experienced isolated peaks, while Auburn has repeatedly found ways to reach championship-level heights with the right coaching hires.
Auburn’s future under Alex Golesh could change the narrative
National media attention often gravitates toward powerhouse brands like Alabama and Texas, which can lead to their in-state rivals being overlooked or mocked.
Auburn deserved criticism during the struggles of Bryan Harsin and Hugh Freeze, but the program believes it has found a different direction under Alex Golesh.
Golesh has quickly gained support from the fan base with his attention to detail, strong leadership style, and commitment to maintaining the standards represented by the Auburn Creed.
The Tigers may have gone through difficult stretches, but history shows Auburn is far from a punchline. The program has competed for championships, produced elite seasons, and has the resources to return to national relevance.
Klatt may have compared Auburn to Texas A&M today, but supporters believe that comparison will not last long. The orange and blue have a history of proving doubters wrong.