This team's unranked skid hits 55.
Major SEC Program Makes Embarrassing History After Preseason Top 25 Reveal originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Auburn football's legacy is vast, built on a foundation of national championships, iconic players and memorable Saturdays at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The program has produced Heisman winners, toppled No. 1 teams five times and earned a reputation as one of the SEC’s toughest, most tradition-rich members.
That’s why the latest preseason AP Top 25 brought such a stinging reminder of the current state of affairs. For the 55th consecutive poll, Auburn was left unranked, tying the program’s longest streak in history, first set from 1964 to 1968.
For a fan base accustomed to competing on the national stage, the optics of this drought are hard to ignore.
The absence from the rankings is more than just a number. It reflects years of inconsistency, missed opportunities and a struggle to find footing in an increasingly competitive SEC landscape.
Even as other storied programs have rebounded from slumps, Auburn’s return to prominence has remained elusive, fueling frustration among fans and adding more weight to the shoulders of coach Hugh Freeze.
With the 2025 season on the horizon, the conversation isn’t just about the streak — it’s about whether this team can finally flip the script and restore Auburn’s standing in college football’s hierarchy.
Auburn’s Fall from Poll Powerhouse to Unranked Run
Auburn was once a powerhouse. The Tigers have two national championships, in 1957 and 2010, and seasons filled with highlights from stars like quarterbacks Cam Newton and Pat Sullivan; running backs Bo Jackson, Cadillac Williams and Tucker Frederickson; and legendary coaches Pat Dye and Ralph “Shug” Jordan.
The team boasts over 800 wins and a storied football history that spans more than a century.
Auburn football remains unranked in the latest AP poll, the 55th consecutive poll in which Auburn was not ranked.
— joshdub (@joshdub_) August 11, 2025
This is the longest such streak in program history since Auburn was not ranked in exactly 55 polls from 1964-1968.
In sharp contrast, recent seasons under Freeze have yielded more losses than wins. Auburn went 6–7 in 2023 and slipped again to 5–7 in 2024.
Fan expectations are tempered, but results have not followed, leaving the Tigers in unfamiliar, unbecoming territory.
Hugh Freeze’s 2025 Season Must Be Different
Freeze enters his third year under a glaring spotlight and under the pressure of being on the hot seat.
The roster is deeper now, with an overhaul through one of the nation’s top recruiting classes in 2025 and the arrival of Oklahoma Sooners transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold, the highest-rated signal-caller as a recruit in Auburn history.
Freeze himself welcomed the pressure at SEC Media Days, saying “I embrace the expectations of Auburn” and expressing confidence that his team can close the gap on rivals like the Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide.
Yet analysts warn this season is a make-or-break moment. “No more excuses, put up or shut up” has become a rallying cry among critics.
Auburn opens the season against the Baylor Bears at 8 p.m. ET Aug. 29 before valuable home games against Georgia and Alabama. If the Tigers don’t improve on and off the field, the season could rewrite Auburn’s modern legacy and Freeze’s future.
Related: Florida Legend Jumps to Hugh Freeze’s Defense Amid Off-Season Criticism
Related: Alabama Legend Rips Hugh Freeze to Shreds Amid Auburn’s Recruiting Struggles
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
