Tag: Auburn

Nov 29, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida State offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn looks on before a game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Florida State OC Gus Malzahn retires after 35 years of coaching

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Florida State offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn announced his retirement Monday after 35 years in coaching.

The former Auburn, University of Central Florida and Arkansas State head coach spent just one season with the Seminoles in 2025.

“After 35 years, it’s time for me to step away from coaching,” Malzahn said in a statement. “I am excited to spend more time with my family and focus on the next chapter of my life. I want to thank Coach (Mike) Norvell for giving me the opportunity to coach at such a prestigious program.”

Norvell promoted co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach Tim Harris to replace Malzahn, 60.

Florida State led the Atlantic Coast Conference in rushing (218.7 yards per game) and total offense (472.1) in Malzahn’s lone season as the play-caller in Tallahassee.

Malzahn compiled a 105-62 record as head coach at Arkansas State (2012), Auburn (2013-20) and UCF (2021-24), including a 3-7 record in bowl games.

During his first season at Auburn in 2013, the Tigers lost 34-31 to Florida State in the BCS Championship game and finished 12-2. Malzahn was named the national and SEC Coach of the Year.

Malzahn coached in the high school ranks from 1991-2005 before becoming the offensive coordinator at Arkansas in 2006. After two seasons as an assistant coach at Tulsa (2007-08), he joined Auburn as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2009-11. In 2010, Tigers quarterback Cam Newton won the Heisman Trophy and Auburn completed a 14-0 season with a national championship.

–Field Level Media

No. 1 transfer WR Cam Coleman heading to Texas

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Cam Coleman, the No. 1 wide receiver in the transfer portal, announced his commitment to Texas on Sunday.

In two seasons at Auburn, Coleman caught 93 passes for 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound receiver, who was ranked by On3 as the top transfer wideout, also made visits to Alabama, Texas Tech and Texas A&M.

His move to Texas leaves Auburn with its second five-star departure of the day. Earlier, quarterback Deuce Knight announced he was moving on to another Southeastern Conference rival, Ole Miss.

Texas was among the power-conference programs to offer Coleman when he was a player at Central Phenix City High School in Alabama in the 2024 class, but he elected to stay in state at Auburn. The 247Sports composite listed him as the No. 2 wide receiver in the recruiting class with only Ohio State star Jeremiah Smith was ahead of him. He was also No. 3 overall ranked player in the incoming class.

At Texas, Coleman will join the returning Ryan Wingo in forming a mighty 1-2 punch for quarterback Arch Manning. Wingo had 54 catches for 834 yards and seven touchdowns last season.

The Longhorns finished the season with a 10-3 record (6-2 SEC).

–Field Level Media

Ex-Auburn QB Deuce Knight commits to Ole Miss

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Former Auburn quarterback Deuce Knight is transferring to Ole Miss, he announced Sunday.

A five-star recruit in the Class of 2025, Knight previously played at George County High in Lucedale, Miss.

“Home is Home,” he posted to Instagram alongside a photo illustration of him wearing the blue Ole Miss jersey.

As a prospect, the 247Sports composite listed him as the No. 5 quarterback in the nation and the No. 28 overall player in the class.

Knight’s commitment gives the Rebels a big option to replace Trinidad Chambliss, who led Ole Miss to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. The No. 6 Rebels lost to No. 10 Miami 31-27 on Thursday night.

Chambliss received word hours later that the NCAA had denied his request for another season of eligibility in 2026.

Ole Miss also is without Chambliss’ backup, Austin Simmons, who has transferred to Missouri, putting the QB position up for grabs.

In his one season at Auburn, Knight played behind upperclassmen Jackson Arnold and Ashton Daniels, but did appear in two games. One of them was a start on Nov. 22 in a 62-17 win against FCS program Mercer, in which he amassed 401 total yards (239 passing, 162 rushing) and tied the program record with six touchdowns (four rushing, two passing).

–Field Level Media

USF QB Byrum Brown follows Alex Golesh to Auburn

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Outgoing South Florida quarterback Byrum Brown decided to follow head coach Alex Golesh to Auburn, he announced Tuesday.

Brown visited the campus over the weekend before committing to the Tigers for his final season of eligibility. He headlines an exodus of nine former Bulls who joined Auburn since the transfer portal opened Friday.

A 6-foot-3 senior from Raleigh, N.C., Brown was the only FBS quarterback to pair 3,000 passing yards with 1,000 rushing yards in 2025.

In all, he passed for 3,158 yards, 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions and rushed for 1,008 yards and 14 TDs in 12 appearances for the 9-4 Bulls, who lost to Old Dominion in the Cure Bowl after Brown opted out.

Brown was a 64.8% passer over four seasons at UCF. He totaled 7,690 passing yards and 61 passing touchdowns along with 2,265 rushing yards and 31 rushing scores in 35 games.

Golesh compiled a 23-15 record in three seasons at USF before being hired on Nov. 30 to replace Hugh Freeze at Auburn.

Brown has an immediate opportunity to start at Auburn, where quarterbacks Jackson Arnold, Ashton Daniels and Deuce Knight all have entered the transfer portal, according to 247Sports’ portal list. Daniels committed to Florida State on Tuesday.

The Tigers finished 99th in passing in the FBS this season with 197.1 yards per game.

–Field Level Media

Report: USF QB Byrum Brown to visit Auburn, former coach

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South Florida quarterback Byrum Brown is entering the transfer portal and planning to visit Auburn and former Bulls head coach Alex Golesh, ESPN reported Saturday.

Brown, a 6-foot-3 senior from Raleigh, N.C., has one season of eligibility remaining. On3 first reported that he would visit Auburn this weekend.

He passed for 3,158 yards with 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions and also rushed for 1,008 yards and 14 TDs in 12 games in 2025. He opted out of the Dec. 17 Cure Bowl against Old Dominion.

Golesh compiled a 23-15 record in three seasons at USF before being hired on Nov. 30 to replace Hugh Freeze at Auburn.

In four seasons with the Bulls, Brown completed 64.8% of his passes for 7,690 yards and 61 touchdowns and rushed for 2,265 yards and 31 touchdowns in 35 games.

Brown would have an immediate opportunity to start at Auburn, where quarterbacks Jackson Arnold, Ashton Daniels and Deuce Knight all have entered the transfer portal, according to 247Sports’ portal list. The Tigers finished 99th in passing in the FBS this season with 197.1 yards per game.

–Field Level Media

Reports: Auburn star WR Cam Coleman intends to transfer

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Auburn star wide receiver Cam Coleman intends to enter the transfer portal despite heavy interest from the new coaching staff to retain him, according to multiple media reports.

Coleman, who just finished his second season with the Tigers, led Auburn with 708 receiving yards and had five of its 11 touchdown catches. The 6-foot-3, 201-pound sophomore has 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns on 93 catches through 23 games.

A native of Phenix City, Ala., Coleman was a coveted five-star prospect in the 2024 class, the No. 3 overall prospect and No. 2 receiver in the class according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

Heading into his final required season in college football, he instantly becomes 247Sports’ top-ranked transfer in the 2026 portal class.

If he’s unable to retain any of them, new Auburn coach Alex Golesh will be losing five of the six receiving leaders off the 2025 Auburn roster entering his first season. Malcolm Simmons, Perry Thompson and Horatio Fields announced their intentions to transfer and tight end Brandon Frazier is out of eligibility.

–Field Level Media

Auburn flips 4-star WR, former Michigan signee Brady Marchese

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Auburn landed a commitment from 2026 four-star receiver Brady Marchese on Sunday, two days after he backed off his signing with Michigan.

Marchese became the third Michigan signee to request his release from his letter of intent on Friday, joining three-star interior offensive lineman Bear McWhorter, who also landed at Auburn, and four-star tight end Matt Ludwig, who signed with Texas Tech.

A 6-foot-1, 183-pound wideout out of Cartersville, Ga., Marchese previously flipped his pledge from Georgia to Michigan during the early signing period on Dec. 4. He ranks as the No. 134 overall prospect and No. 20 receiver in the 2026 class according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

Michigan’s class falls to 11th in the 247Sports composite class rankings with Marchese’s departure while Auburn’s class ranking rises to 30th with his addition.

–Field Level Media

Auburn hires USF’s Alex Golesh as head coach

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Auburn named South Florida’s Alex Golesh as the program’s new head coach on Sunday.

Golesh, who was the Bulls’ head coach, accepted a six-year contract with the Tigers, per ESPN.

He effectively will take the place of Hugh Freeze, who was fired on Nov. 2. Golesh will return to the Southeastern Conference, where he was Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

“I want to thank President (Christopher B.) Roberts and (athletic director) John Cohen for the opportunity to lead the Auburn program,” Golesh said. “Auburn Football is one of the proudest, most tradition-rich programs in all of college football and my family and I could not be more excited to join the Auburn family. This will be a player-driven program, and no one will outwork our staff.

“Auburn has won, can win and will win championships. Let’s get to work.”

Golesh, 41, has a 9-3 record this season and 23-15 mark overall during his three campaigns at USF. He has guided the Bulls to bowl wins in each of his previous two seasons.

Prior to his arrival in South Florida, the Bulls limped to a 1-11 record in 2022.

“We are thrilled to announce Alex Golesh as the 33rd head coach of Auburn Football,” Cohen said. “He has produced wins and record-setting results throughout his entire career, including over the last three seasons at USF.

“Alex is known nationally for his player development prowess, ability to shape creative and explosive offenses, and his relentless approach to building winning programs. I was also struck by his coaching experience on both sides of the ball. In our conversations, he showed the determination and edge that this program demands of its head coach.”

Defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin served as an interim head coach for Auburn (5-7, 1-7 SEC), which lost for the seventh time in nine games on Saturday with a 27-20 setback to No. 10 Alabama in the Iron Bowl.

–Field Level Media

No. 10 Alabama blows lead but beats Auburn to play for SEC title

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Tyler Horton caught three touchdown passes from Ty Simpson to help visiting No. 10 Alabama survive blowing a 17-point lead to escape with a 27-20 win over rival Auburn in the Iron Bowl on Saturday night.

The Crimson Tide (10-2, 7-1 Southeastern Conference) clinched a spot in the SEC conference game vs. Georgia with the dramatic victory, also likely locking up a spot in the College Football Playoff.

“These guys are unbelievable,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said of his team in the ESPN postgame interview. “They’ve had their backs to the wall and been competing for a long time. These guys, they give you everything they’ve got every single day. It’s been a long road, but we get to continue on. I can’t wait to go do more with them next weekend.”

After the Tigers tied the game with 11:43 left, Alabama responded with a 15-play, 75-yard drive which took nearly eight minutes off the clock. It ended with a fourth-and-2 conversion when Simpson found Horton once again for what became the game-winning 6-yard touchdown catch.

Auburn’s ensuing drive moved well across midfield before Cam Coleman fumbled at the Crimson Tide 20 and Alabama’s Deontae Lawson recovered.

Horton had just five catches for 35 yards, but three of them were touchdowns. Simpson had a season-low 122 yards, completing 19 of 35 passes. Jam Miller had 83 rushing yards on 15 carries before leaving the game with a leg injury.

Ashton Daniels was 18-of-39 passing for 259 yards, a touchdown and an interception for Auburn (5-7, 1-7), which finishes a win shy of bowl eligibility. He also ran for 108 of the Tigers’ 152 rushing yards. Malcolm Simmons had three catches for 143 yards.

After a slow start, Auburn outgained Alabama 411-280.

The Tigers appeared destined for an uncompetitive loss when they dug themselves a 17-0 hole early in the second quarter with just 1 net yard on their first three offensive possessions.

Alabama opened the scoring on a 45-yard field goal by Conor Talty and made it 10-0 on Simpson’s first connection with Horton, a 6-yard completion with 1:14 left in the first quarter.

The pair connected again for a 3-yard touchdown to make it 17-0 Crimson Tide less than five minutes later.

However, Auburn came through with a pair of Alex McPherson field goals in the final 4:06 of the first half to cut the halftime deficit to 17-6. Then, the Tigers finally found the end zone on the third play of the third quarter when Daniels found Simmons wide open for a 64-yard touchdown.

After an Alabama 29-yard field goal that made it 20-13, Auburn again hit an explosive pass to Simmons, this one a 66-yard gain down to the Alabama 4. Two plays later, Jeremiah Cobb punched in a 2-yard touchdown to level the game at 20 with 11:43 left.

–Field Level Media

Auburn to sit Ashton Daniels in battle with FCS Mercer

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DJ Durkin’s coaching debut for Auburn featured a big performance from quarterback Ashton Daniels.

His second game will feature a different quarterback, and it could be Jackson Arnold or Deuce Knight on Saturday afternoon when the Tigers host FCS opponent Mercer, which is on a nine-game winning streak.

Daniels completed 31 of 44 passes for 353 yards in a 45-38 overtime loss at Vanderbilt. Durkin, however, decided to preserve the Stanford transfer’s redshirt status by sitting him for this week’s game before bringing him back for the Iron Bowl against Alabama.

“I think it’s tremendous for this program and also for him,” Durkin said Monday. “I think he has great football ahead of him, so we are going to do that.”

If Arnold starts. he will be making his 10th appearance. He has thrown for 1,278 yards and six touchdowns in his first season with Auburn after spending the previous two seasons at Oklahoma. Arnold was replaced by Daniels in a 33-24 win over Arkansas on Oct. 25 after completing 7 of 12 passes for 73 yards and one interception.

If the Tigers (4-6) turn to Knight, he would play for the second time after appearing during the final minutes of a 42-3 rout of Ball State on Sept. 6.

“We’re going to put together a great plan for both of these guys to have success,” Durkin said. “I told their teammates that it’s their job to rally around them, too. I know those guys will. They feel strongly about that. I’m looking forward to how the entire team responds.”

Whoever is behind center, the Tigers are hoping for a replica of one their better showings on offense.

The Tigers set a season-high for passing yards against Vanderbilt while scoring their second-most points this season. Auburn also totaled a season-best 563 yards after being held to 241 yards in a 10-3 loss to Kentucky in Hugh Freeze’s final game as coach.

Jeremiah Cobb rushed for 115 yards while Cam Coleman finished with a career-high 143 yards on 10 catches and Eric Singleton had 11 receptions for 102 yards.

While Auburn is 13-0 against Mercer, the Bears are two-time Southern Conference champion, sixth in the FCS coaches poll and unbeaten since a 15-10 loss to Presbyterian in the season opener. The Bears are averaging 41.7 points, which is fourth in FCS and second in passing offense (344.7 yards).

“A lot of these kids grow up dreaming of playing in the SEC,” Mercer coach Mike Jacobs said. “They’re going to get an opportunity to go on the road and play a really good Auburn team. I actually think they’re playing with D.J. Durkin because he’s got an edge about him.”

Mercer (9-1) also is allowing 19.7 points per game and 73.7 rushing yards per contest, third in FCS.

“We know this is a challenge ahead for us, so our guys are going to do a great job focusing on Mercer this week,” Durkin said.

Braden Atkinson is second in FCS with 33 touchdowns and tied a school-record by throwing five TDs in Saturday’s 63-17 rout of Chattanooga when Mercer totaled 545 yards and scored on eight of their first 10 possessions.

Atkinson has thrown for at least 300 yards in eight games while also completing at least 60 percent of his passes seven times after inheriting the starting role from Whitt Newbauer, who transferred to Oklahoma.

“Our young quarterback continues to play beyond his years,” Jacobs said.

–Field Level Media