The Auburn Observer

Justin and Dan look back at Auburn basketball getting a win it absolutely needed against South Carolina behind Filip Jović’s breakout performance, then they talk about the work Alex Golesh and staff are doing in the transfer portal for Auburn football. Topics for this episode include:* the benefits of winning when a team needs a win* the conditions that led to Jović’s massive game* is Auburn’s frosty three-point shooting a concern?* how elements of Tahaad Pettiford’s game reversed course after the Missouri loss* Dan’s reasons to believe the team can improve between now and the end of the season* a brief preview of Ole Miss before Justin heads to Oxford* a player-by-player breakdown of Auburn’s latest incoming football transfers* which positions seem to have clear-cut favorites to start and which positions seem to suggest heavy competition* Scrap joining a long line of great Auburn names* an update about Troy Women’s Basketball’s quest for the Sun Belt title* an ode to watching historic sports moments at bars in airports* a preview of the CFP National Championship Game* Dan takes victory laps after predicting success for Dylan Cardwell and Fernando Mendoza* several failed attempts by Dan to give Jović a nickname, including one that causes Justin audible pain If you’re receiving this free podcast episode and would like to upgrade to a paid subscription that gives you access to all stories and premium podcast episodes, subscribe using the button below or clicking this link.Follow Dan (@dnpck) and Justin (@JFergusonAU) on Twitter. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.auburnobserver.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.auburnobserver.comJustin and Dan provide a detailed breakdown of Auburn basketball’s deflating loss at Missouri. Topics for this episode include:* what went wrong* a rough night at the office for Keyshawn Hall and Tahaad Pettiford* why Steven Pearl’s postgame remarks about leadership were so illuminating* Auburn’s lack of depth, where it impacts offense and defense, and where it doesn’t* the importance of Sebastian Williams-Adams to this team* the ongoing search for consistency* a home matchup on Saturday against South Carolina that takes on added importance after the Missouri game* Meechie? Again?* Auburn women’s basketball picking up a massive home win against Alabama while the podcast was being recorded* a thrilling installment of The Wings 94.3 Game* the hilarious Kyle Tucker news* Grubserver talk about Pizza Tree, Hawaiian Bros, and In-N-Out Burger* Dan nominates a few actors who had De Niro-esque 10-year runs* a formal invitation to appear on the show for one of the Observer’s favorite actor/wrestlersThis is a premium podcast for Observer subscribers only. You can join by clicking the button below or going to this link.Follow Dan (@dnpck) and Justin (@JFergusonAU) on Twitter.

Justin and Dan go deep on Auburn basketball’s massive and much-needed home win over Arkansas before discussing the latest big-time pickups in the transfer portal for Auburn football. Topics for this episode include:* how the Tigers flashed their impressive ceiling once again* Auburn’s players saying they had to win this one for the fans* Keyshawn Hall putting himself in Auburn history with another 30-ball* why Hall’s game was much more than just scoring at an elite level* Tahaad Pettiford making a huge difference while not hitting many shots* Auburn’s defensive excellence against one of the nation’s best offenses* the Tigers’ ability to rebound at a very high rate against bigger teams* Justin’s take about just how good this Auburn offense can be* why Blake Muschalek played over Kaden Magwood on Saturday* a brief preview of a road test against a massive Missouri team* how much better could Auburn football’s offense be next season?* landing Keshaun Singleton and the importance of continuity * the upgrade at quarterback with Byrum Brown* a look back at the transfer quarterback class in 2025* Cam Coleman to Texas… and Deuce Knight to Ole Miss* Baylor transfer Bryson Washington’s potential in an Alex Golesh offense* the surprise pickup of Jake Johnson at tight end* Dan’s take on new transfer offensive tackle Jo Simmons* looking at a few recent pickups on the defensive side and what could be next* “the West Coast of the Sun Belt”* check out this up-and-coming film actor: Robert De Niro If you’re receiving this free podcast episode and would like to upgrade to a paid subscription that gives you access to all stories and premium podcast episodes, subscribe using the button below or clicking this link.Follow Dan (@dnpck) and Justin (@JFergusonAU) on Twitter. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.auburnobserver.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.auburnobserver.comJustin and Dan go long (Byrum Brown term) once again to talk all things Auburn basketball and Auburn football in another loaded week for both sports. Topics include:* the controversial ending to the Texas A&M game* why the SEC isn’t interested in transparency with officiating* how Auburn should have never found itself in that positio…

Justin and Dan burn some midnight oil back in the Wings 94.3 studio, talking all things Auburn football in the transfer portal before a deep dive into the first two SEC games for Auburn basketball. Topics for this episode include:* the “latest” on Byrum Brown and Keshaun Singleton, as of Monday night* why these timelines feel different — and more stressful for some fans* what Nykahi Davenport could bring to Auburn’s running back room* how the Tigers are reloading the wide receiver room rather quickly* some names to watch along the offensive and defensive lines* holding onto some key young players on the defensive side of the ball* Justin’s Auburn comp for Fred Gaskin III* Dan’s love of all things Florida panhandle recruits* why you shouldn’t get caught up too much in the transfer rankings* Auburn basketball’s defensive issues and what can be done to fix it* how the Tigers showed a ton of fight in the comeback in Athens* why the guards — not the bigs — are the biggest concerns right now* Filip Jović being an example to follow moving forward* a breakdown of a brand-new Texas A&M rotation running Bucky Ball* the Tigers’ keys to success against the Aggies* how much has your opinion on Auburn basketball’s ceiling changed?* a shoutout to new Observer contributor Justin Lee and The Auburn Torch If you’re receiving this free podcast episode and would like to upgrade to a paid subscription that gives you access to all stories and premium podcast episodes, subscribe using the button below or clicking this link.Follow Dan (@dnpck) and Justin (@JFergusonAU) on Twitter. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.auburnobserver.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.auburnobserver.comJustin and Dan are both remote and in-person for this podcast episode, talking all things portal for Auburn football before calling Dawgs247’s Jordan Hill to preview Auburn basketball’s SEC opener at Georgia. Topics include:* Cam Coleman, Deuce Knight and the negative transfer portal news…* …along with the six confirmed returns for…

Justin and Dan are back in the Wings 94.3 studio after a week off for the holidays, and they change it up by talking some Auburn football before diving into football. Topics for this episode include:* note: this episode was recorded before the Connor Lew news* the latest outgoing portal movement for Auburn football* Auburn’s changing NIL and revenue-sharing approach* how the Xavier Atkins retention is feeling bigger by the week* increased optimism of Cam Coleman’s return to the Plains* the Sunk Cost Fallacy and South Carolina* why Auburn fans shouldn’t freak out too much right now* Tahaad Pettiford and KeShawn Murphy’s positive injury news* the real challenge of facing Queens’ offense on Monday night* the real opportunity in facing Queens’ defense on Monday night* setting the tone in the final non-conference game before going to Georgia* The Auburn Observer’s plans for 2026* Justin accidentally going viral with a tweet about his mother-in-law* Dan’s review of Marty Supreme* not The Queens of the Stone Age song you were expecting (or maybe it was)If you’re receiving this free podcast episode and would like to upgrade to a paid subscription that gives you access to all stories and premium podcast episodes, subscribe using the button below or clicking this link.Follow Dan (@dnpck) and Justin (@JFergusonAU) on Twitter. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.auburnobserver.com/subscribe

Justin checks in from Indianapolis to break down what he saw in Indianapolis in Auburn basketball’s loss to Purdue with Dan. Topics include:* why this game felt different than the Arizona and Purdue losses* Steven Pearl’s read of the situation, even if some fans don’t agree with it* this sport is about getting buckets* Auburn’s need to do more in the back to counter what it lacks in the front* the statistical outliers of Purdue’s shooting performance* how Auburn didn’t get much on offense outside of Kevin Overton* the injury fears for Tahaad Pettiford and KeShawn Murphy* has the non-conference schedule changed your opinion of this team?* looking ahead to a more favorable-looking start to SEC play* Tahaad Pettiford heading into the second half of the season* the importance of ratcheting up pressure and finding ways to generate turnovers* a wild stat about Auburn’s free-throw battles* can the Tigers find a new big at the last second — and develop another guard?* Justin’s Grubserver review of two very Indianapolis meals* Dan’s review of the new Avatar movieIf you’re receiving this free podcast episode and would like to upgrade to a paid subscription that gives you access to all stories, the roster tracker and the premium podcast episodes — for our special Christmas discount — subscribe using the button below or clicking this link.Follow Dan (@dnpck) and Justin (@JFergusonAU) on Twitter. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.auburnobserver.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.auburnobserver.comNote: Justin’s audio changes early in the podcast because of some microphone issues. It eventually goes back to normal. But we know it’s there.Justin and Dan talk Auburn football’s latest movement in the upcoming transfer portal window before breaking down a massive opportunity in Indianapolis for basketball against Purdue. Top…

Justin and Dan break down Auburn basketball’s underwhelming win over Chattanooga in Atlanta and talk a couple of notable football departures. Topics include:* Auburn’s lack of defensive effort and execution in a favorable matchup* Dan’s question about if the Tigers can play disruptive defense without numbers* Justin’s take about the absence of Kevin Overton in this game* Elyjah Freeman giving up his starting spot to Sebastian Williams-Adams* Auburn’s improved ball movement and assist rate on offense* the issues that still creep up for the Tigers’ top-15 attack* Keyshawn Hall providing more than just points* Tahaad Pettiford finding his 3-point shot again* Emeka Opurum’s sudden shutdown* Auburn needing defensive improvement from the backup guards* why did Auburn score so much in the final minute?* Malcolm Simmons’ transfer departure for football* the Freeze Four Era and how things might change moving forward* Keldric Faulk heading to the NFL Draft, as expected* a Dusty Finish in basketballIf you’re receiving this free podcast episode and would like to upgrade to a paid subscription that gives you access to all stories, the roster tracker and the premium podcast episodes — for our special Christmas discount — subscribe using the button below or clicking this link.Follow Dan (@dnpck) and Justin (@JFergusonAU) on Twitter. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.auburnobserver.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.auburnobserver.comJustin and Dan go deep on a number of subjects for Auburn football and basketball as the Tigers nail down their assistant coaches and schedule for 2026 — and get ready for a trip to Atlanta this weekend for Holiday Hoopsgiving. Topics include:* the mix of Alex Golesh, SEC and even Auburn experience on this new staff* a coach-by-coa…

Justin and Dan are back in studio to record a wide-ranging episode on Alex Golesh’s first week with Auburn football and Auburn basketball’s loss at Arizona. Topics include:* Golesh saying his top priority is re-recruiting the current roster* why Golesh could have gone clean slate with the program — but isn’t* the right approach to retaining talent, given Auburn’s recent situation* the quarterback situation and the Deuce Knight debate among fans* putting the importance of recruiting into the proper context* a reminder of why Auburn decided to hire Alex Golesh in the first place* why bringing over USF staffers (and maybe talent) makes sense* building the Year 1 staff of assistants, including a couple of new names* Beef O’Brady’s?* what went so wrong for Auburn basketball at Arizona* why this particular loss isn’t a reason to hit the panic button* how Auburn basketball didn’t look connected enough on both ends of the floor* putting Auburn’s 7-3 start in the proper context* looking ahead to the rest of the schedule, including that Purdue trip next week* A NOTE FROM DAN: Because of technical difficulties, we had to edit out the original ending of this episode. Justin provided thoughts about his visit to Tucson (he described some delicious Mexican food) and I lamented the looming end of 80s pro wrestling on Peacock and its uncertain streaming future. I vow that we will revisit both subjects in the future on The Auburn Observer Podcast. If you’re receiving this free podcast episode and would like to upgrade to a paid subscription that gives you access to all stories, the roster tracker and the premium podcast episodes — for our special Christmas discount — subscribe using the button below or clicking this link.Follow Dan (@dnpck) and Justin (@JFergusonAU) on Twitter. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.auburnobserver.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.auburnobserver.comJustin and Dan aren’t in the Wings 94.3 studio for this one, but they try to make up for it by talking a ton of Auburn basketball and football in a short amount of time before the Observer North American Tour continues. Topics include:* why Auburn turned the ball over so much against NC State* Kevin Overton playing a nearly perfect game …

Justin and Dan share all of their thoughts on Auburn football’s hire of Alex Golesh as its new head coach, less than 24 hours after the end of the season. Topics include:* why it’s important to remember where USF was before Golesh arrived* Golesh’s work with some of the best-looking offenses in college football* the details of the Veer-and-Shoot system and what sets Golesh apart there* Golesh’s Rust Belt football background and how it applies to his offenses* Auburn’s pursuit of top target Jon Sumrall, who ended up at Florida* DJ Durkin’s chances of staying on as Golesh’s defensive coordinator* Kodi Burns and other USF names who could be making the jump to the Plains* how John Cohen’s first press conference hinted at a Golesh-like hire* why quarterback play and elite offense have been priorities right now* the bonus of roster retention — and why it’s not the biggest deal with a change* what Year 1 under Golesh could look like with the schedule Auburn must face* a look at the Lane Kiffin-to-LSU chaos, Kentucky’s late move and… whatever Penn State is doing in this carousel?* Dan asks a question: which Christmas movie would you play 24 straight hours if you owned a cable channel?* Note: Justin misspoke when he said the Christmas sale was $5 or $50. It’s 25% off an annual sub, for the 25 days. You get it.If you’re receiving this free podcast episode and would like to upgrade to a paid subscription that gives you access to all stories and premium podcast episodes — for our special Christmas discount — subscribe using the button below or clicking this link.Follow Dan (@dnpck) and Justin (@JFergusonAU) on Twitter. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.auburnobserver.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.auburnobserver.comJustin and Dan are still in Las Vegas for this episode, using the power of time travel. They break down all the angles of Auburn football’s shot at a monumental upset of rival Alabama in the 2025 Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Topics include:* the parallels between this matchup and past Iron Bowls* why an Auburn team that has on…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.auburnobserver.comJustin and Dan break down what they saw from Auburn basketball live in Las Vegas at the Players Era Championship: Two huge second-half surges to beat Oregon and St. John’s, plus a blowout loss to a Michigan team that might be invincible. Topics include:* Justin and Dan’s takes on the Players Era format, since Auburn is lined up h…

Justin and Dan recap Auburn football putting together a mostly complete performance in a win over Mercer before turning their attention to Auburn basketball’s first two games at the Players Era Festival. Topics for this episode include:* the improved vibes heading into the Iron Bowl* Deuce Knight putting on a show in his first career start* again, what was Hugh Freeze doing on offense? Derrick Nix figured it out* Auburn’s pass defense struggling early — and why that’s a problem* Cam Coleman’s latest touchdown and his value to the program moving forward* Keldric Faulk’s early absence and the surprising lack of running back production* the format of the Players Era Festival, which is pretty out there* Keyshawn Hall’s injury status* how Oregon has one of the tallest and most talented rosters you’ll find in Vegas* the matchup between KeShawn Murphy and Nate Bittle* Justin’s thoughts on where Auburn’s defense has to be careful against Oregon* is there pressure on Tahaad Pettiford after a slow shooting start?* looking ahead to a matchup with another loaded Michigan team* rebounding, rebounding, rebounding* a reminder that The Observer will be in Vegas for all the action* Dan’s guide to Las VegasIf you’re receiving this free podcast episode and would like to upgrade to a paid subscription that gives you access to all stories and premium podcast episodes, subscribe using the button below or clicking this link.Follow Dan (@dnpck) and Justin (@JFergusonAU) on Twitter. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.auburnobserver.com/subscribe

Justin and Dan recap Auburn basketball nearly pulling off an upset of No. 1 Houston in Birmingham with a virtually brand-new roster. Topics for this episode include:* how Auburn truly believed it could beat Houston on Sunday* the resiliency Auburn showed it responding to every punch in this game* the Tigers’ rebounding holding up in a physical showdown* Keyshawn Hall buying into the Auburn culture and not just being a scorer* how Hall’s early injury exit made a difference down the stretch* KeShawn Murphy proving his immense value again in his return* Sebastian Williams-Adams and Elyjah Freeman showing that they’re ready now* Tahaad Pettiford looking more like his old self in this one* Auburn’s ability to dominate the foul battle…* …but miss out on a win at the free-throw line* the defensive issues and the continued work toward consistency on that end* why Auburn should keep playing these types of games* Grubserver: a review of Johnny’s Restaurant in HomewoodIf you’re receiving this free podcast episode and would like to upgrade to a paid subscription that gives you access to all stories and premium podcast episodes, subscribe using the button below or clicking this link.Follow Dan (@dnpck) and Justin (@JFergusonAU) on Twitter. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.auburnobserver.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.auburnobserver.comJustin and Dan talk a lot of Auburn basketball in this episode, looking back at the Wofford win and previewing a massive showdown with No. 1 Houston in Birmingham before talking DJ Durkin and reviewing a bag of Skittles. Topics include:* Keyshawn Hall continuing to be a bucket* Tahaad Pettiford’s shooting slump to start the season* A…

Justin and Dan recap Auburn football’s surprising shootout loss to Vanderbilt away from home while looking back at a strong win for basketball against Merrimack. Topics for this show include:* …what exactly was Hugh Freeze doing with this offense?* how much better Auburn’s attack looked with actual pace and space* the Tigers continuing to fight in an increasingly lost season* why Auburn’s season-long defensive issues looked even larger in this game* pay Cam Coleman whatever it takes* Ashton Daniels looking like a winning-quality SEC quarterback* the return of the penalties and how they might have been the ultimate difference* Auburn’s offensive line stepping up with a change in personnel* looking ahead to an Iron Bowl with something actually at stake* DJ Durkin’s chances at the permanent head coaching job* Emeka Opurum having a strong Auburn debut against Merrimack* Dan making a terrible pun with Keyshawn Hall* Justin having a small victory lap about Sebastian Williams-Adams* the Tigers’ backcourt contributing well without scoring a ton* Auburn’s offensive potential once it starts knocking down 3s* why dominating small teams in rebounding might actually matter* KeShawn Murphy’s status* a quick look ahead to Tuesday’s home game against Wofford* Steven Spielberg ChatIf you’re receiving this free podcast episode and would like to upgrade to a paid subscription that gives you access to all stories and premium podcast episodes, subscribe using the button below or clicking this link.Follow Dan (@dnpck) and Justin (@JFergusonAU) on Twitter. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.auburnobserver.com/subscribe