Only the old-timers remember a stretch of Auburn football this rough. The Tigers have stumbled through five straight losing seasons—a mark not seen since 1946-50. Bryan Harsin came and went. Hugh Freeze followed, but neither could deliver a single winning season on the Plains. For a program with such a proud tradition, the fall has been jarring.

But here’s the thing: Auburn just made its third hire since Gus Malzahn—who, by the way, never had a losing season at Auburn. This time, they’ve gone in a fresh direction, plucking Alex Golesh out of South Florida. And there’s something different about this move.

Golesh brings energy, youth, and a track record of building offenses from the ground up. He’s not looking to coast on past glory. He’s bringing in familiar faces, including several USF transfers who already know his system. That includes quarterback Byrum Brown, a pivotal piece of the rebuild. In a recent interview, Auburn center Cole Best shared a revealing conversation with Brown that shows exactly how the new QB is earning respect and support from his teammates.

On a recent episode of "SEC Football Unfiltered," host Blake Toppmeyer and Montgomery Advertiser’s Adam Cole dug into Golesh’s early days. Cole noted the mood around Auburn: cautious, but curious. "I’d buy it. I would. There’s just something about Golesh," Cole said. Harsin never fit Auburn. Freeze seemed like he fit, but his best days were behind him, and he could never get the quarterbacks going. Golesh? He’s a younger, up-and-coming coach who’s not going to be outworked by anyone.

So, new coach. New quarterback. New offense. Even a new mantra. Can Auburn turn it around? It’s a question every fan is asking. And for the first time in a while, there’s reason to believe the answer might be yes.