Auburn finally settled on Alex Golesh as Hugh Freeze's permanent replacement , but not before giving interim head football coach D.J. Durkin a long look. Before hiring Golesh, the Tigers were reportedly much closer to giving Durkin the full-time job than many might expect, with their decision only coming after the 2025 Iron Bowl.

Auburn lost to No. 10 Alabama for the sixth consecutive season but put up a fight in the 27-20 defeat. The program reportedly viewed Durkin as a “strong contender” to become Freeze's full-time replacement before the game, with its hiring decision likely hinging on the result , according to CBS Sports' John Talty.

The Tigers entered the game as a 6.5-point underdog, but were immediately pinned against the wall and found themselves down 10-0 after the first qu

See Full Page