Auburn football’s offseason just got serious. Head coach Alex Golesh is wasting no time building his program from the ground up — and that means skipping the distractions of a meaningless bowl game. In this episode of The Auburn Express, we break down how Auburn’s decision reflects the new reality of college football: recruiting comes first, the portal never sleeps, and December has become a war zone for roster management.

From losing key assistants to quickly rebuilding his staff, Golesh is showing that the focus is firmly on 2026 and beyond. Fans may want to see more football, but as Mike Gittens explains, playing in a low-tier bowl could hurt more than help. Why risk injury, bad optics, and coaching confusion when the real work is in the transfer portal?

The guys also discuss how early signing day has turned the calendar upside down, forcing coaches to juggle recruiting, retention, and relationship-building in just weeks. With players like Perry Thompson hitting the portal and new defensive staff members joining the mix, every move matters.

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