Despite finishing 5-7, Auburn became eligible for a bowl because its APR score moved it up the replacement list. When teams like Notre Dame and Kansas State turned down their bowl invites, Auburn could take the No. 6 APR spot. Instead of chasing postseason glory, the new head coach, Alex Golesh, hit the decline button and later demonstrated why.

“If it had all happened a week ago and our guys were all here, the staff that was previously here was still here and intact for the most part, I think that would have been realistic,” Alex Golesh said on Monday. “When that question was posed to us, there were multiple things that went into it.”

He recognized that, given the numerous changes unfolding, it was not the right moment to engage in another game. He ensured that while it’s always fun to

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