In a world without Tahaad Pettiford, the Auburn Tigers looked primed to take a major step back from the success of a Final Four season in 2024-2025. With the sophomore sharpshooter back on board after withdrawing his name from the NBA Draft, Bruce Pearl’s team is now talented enough to strive towards replicating last year’s run.
Many experts across the college basketball world agree, as the Tigers have jumped up early rankings after the news last season’s fantastic freshman would “run it back” in 2025-26. One of those experts ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, recently tabbed the Tigers as the No. 14 team in the country, which also happens to be fourth in the SEC.
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The No. 14 Tigers trail the defending champion Florida Gators (No. 2), Kentucky Wildcats (No. 9) and Arkansas Razorbacks (No. 11) among the SEC programs on the list. Alabama (No. 17) and Tennessee (No. 23) are the only other ranked teams from the conference.
Three other squads on Auburn‘s 2025-2026 schedule rank ahead of the Tigers as well, with No. 1 ranked Purdue and last year’s runner up Houston (No. 3) rounding out Borzello’s trio at the top. Arizona, who the Tigers will begin a home-and-home series with this year, ranks one spot ahead of Auburn, at No. 13.
Despite Auburn beating all but one of those teams (Florida) last season, Borzello explains the ranking was due to “Bruce Pearl’s roster faces an overhaul” as he cited the sudden departure of Chad Baker-Mazara as a major loss. Still, Pearl’s additions of Texas Tech guard Kevin Overton, UCF forward and BIG 12 leading scorer Keyshawn Hall, and Mississippi State forward KeShawn Murphy give Auburn proven, Power 4, big time talent.
It is important to note preseason rankings, specifically ones done in June, aren’t often accurate. Auburn’s ranking at the No. 14 spot should say more about the Tigers ability to reload and make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament again than it does indicate a step back. For reference, Bruce Pearl’s squad was ranked all the way back at No. 18 in last season’s preseason AP Poll.
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This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn basketball’s ESPN preseason rank spikes with Tahaad Pettiford
