The Auburn Tigers followed their Iron Bowl loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide by following an old pattern. In three career head coaching seasons, the best win for Alex Golesh came is the 2025 season-opener over then No. 25-ranked Boise State. Boise State is now 8-4 and ranked No. 51 by ESPN's FPI. Golesh's South Florida Bulls followed that win by beating the then No. 13-ranked Florida Gators. The Gators finished the season at 4-8.
In October, I opined on Auburn's Hugh Freeze mess and explained what caused it: "When a program consistently measures itself against a rival and makes key decisions based on improving chances of beating that rival, other important things are ignored."
At Ole Miss, Freeze had what Auburn always covets: success against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Auburn's tunnel vision is not new. Gus Malzahn became Auburn's head coach in 2013, largely based on the Tigers' miracle victory over Alabama in 2010.
The Tigers even make quarterbacking decisions based on wins against the Crimson Tide. Former Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold was an Alabama-killer in the 2024 season. Hugh Freeze and many Auburn fans believed Arnold would repeat the same feat in the 2025 Iron Bowl. Instead, he watched every snap from the sideline.
Golesh as a OC torched an Alabama Crimson Tide defense
Golesh has another resume bullet that Auburn no doubt loved. He was Tennessee's Offensive Coordinator in the 2022 season when the Vols beat the Crimson Tide 52-49 in Knoxville. That Tennessee team scorched the Alabama defense for 567 yards, with a not-great Hendon Hooker at quarterback.
In three seasons as South Florida's head coach, Golesh is 14-10. His crowning achievement as a head coach came in the 2023 season. USF lost to the Alabama Crimson Tide 17-3. But the Bulls pushed Alabama around through much of the game as the most physical team. It was an embarrassing win for the Crimson Tide that felt more like a loss. The Auburn football program nourishes itself on Alabama football losses and embarrassments. As such, Alex Golesh is a perfect choice for the Tigers.
Alabama football fans know Kevin Scarbinsky for hating teams. Scarbinsky tweeted Alex Golesh's USF record facts.
- "Finished 5th, 6th and 4th in the American (with one of the best budgets in the league)."
- "Went 2-4 against ranked opponents."
- "Lost to UAB and Trent Dilfer 56-35 in their first meeting."
But all is well on The Plains because Golesh has twice made an Alabama football team look bad.
Alex Golesh may well succeed at Auburn. He is far from a bad hire, just a typical one for the Tigers.