In a year that will be etched into college sports history, Auburn University has ascended to the pinnacle of collegiate athletics. The 2024–25 season has seen the Tigers evolve into a juggernaut, not just in a single sport, but across the athletic spectrum. At the center of this dominance is the Auburn Tigers baseball team, whose surge to the 2025 College World Series (CWS) has catapulted them into the national spotlight.
However, the glory doesn’t end on the baseball diamond. Auburn’s unprecedented run also included a Final Four appearance in men’s basketball, a deep NCAA Tournament showing in women’s basketball, and a national title in track and field. The 2025 athletic year may very well be remembered as “The Year of the Tiger” — and not just in the SEC, but in all of collegiate sports.
The Rise of Auburn Baseball: From Contenders to CWS Giants
Entering the 2025 season, Auburn baseball had high expectations after a strong recruiting class and back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances. Head coach Butch Thompson, now in his 10th season at the helm, had quietly built a powerhouse. Behind the scenes, Thompson’s staff had cultivated a winning culture rooted in player development, smart analytics, and old-school toughness.
The Tigers stormed through the SEC with a 20–10 conference record, dominating at home and silencing crowds on the road. Their regular season was highlighted by a sweep of perennial powerhouse LSU and an unforgettable walk-off win against Florida at Plainsman Park that sent shockwaves through the college baseball landscape.
Auburn’s pitching rotation, anchored by flamethrower Cole Ellis and sinkerball ace Ty McMullen, consistently delivered quality starts. Offensively, the Tigers were powered by junior slugger Landon Morris, whose 22 home runs led the SEC, and freshman phenom Jaxton Rule, who was named SEC Freshman of the Year.
By the time the NCAA Tournament rolled around, Auburn had earned the No. 5 national seed and swept through the Regional and Super Regional rounds. Their thrilling extra-inning win over Oregon State in the Super Regional clinched a return to Omaha for the second time in four years.
Men’s Basketball: Bruce Pearl Reaches the Final Four Again
While the baseball team was grabbing headlines, Auburn men’s basketball was crafting its own masterpiece. Head coach Bruce Pearl, already revered on The Plains, took his Tigers on another deep March Madness run — this time advancing to the Final Four in Phoenix.
Behind the breakout performance of All-American forward Johni Broome and elite point guard Aden Holloway, the Tigers knocked off top-seeded Kansas and Cinderella squad Dayton before falling to eventual champion UConn in the national semifinal. Still, the accomplishment marked Auburn’s second Final Four in six seasons, cementing Pearl as one of the game’s premier coaches.
The Tigers’ defensive identity — long, athletic, switch-heavy — and uptempo style made them a nightmare matchup in the tournament. The passionate Auburn fanbase, known for traveling en masse, turned each neutral-site arena into a sea of orange and blue.
Women’s Basketball Returns to Prominence
While Auburn men’s hoops took the national stage, the women’s program made headlines of its own. Head coach Johnnie Harris led the Lady Tigers to their first Sweet 16 appearance in over a decade.
Led by the breakout play of sophomore guard MiLaysia Fulwiley, a transfer from South Carolina, and veteran forward Aicha Coulibaly, Auburn surged through the SEC and earned a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Their gritty wins over Texas and Maryland reignited pride in the program and signaled a return to the national conversation.
Recruiting momentum is now in full swing, with top-20 national prospect and Alabama native Jordan McNair recently committing to the Tigers.
Track and Field: National Champions
The cherry on top of Auburn’s 2025 dominance came at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, where the Tigers captured the national title in commanding fashion. The men’s squad, led by world-class sprinter Malik Bright and javelin champion Santiago Leal, overwhelmed the competition with both depth and star power.
On the women’s side, Auburn finished in the top 5 nationally, with sprinter Nia Denson capturing the 100m and 200m titles in back-to-back days. The dual success of both the men’s and women’s teams showcased the Tigers’ commitment to being elite across the board, not just in revenue sports.
Dominating the Learfield Directors’ Cup
Auburn’s multi-sport excellence has been reflected in the prestigious Learfield Directors’ Cup standings, which measure overall athletic department success. As of early June, Auburn leads all NCAA Division I programs, ahead of traditional powers like Stanford, Texas, and Michigan.
This remarkable ranking reflects top-tier finishes in not just baseball, basketball, and track, but also swimming & diving, gymnastics, golf, and softball. Auburn gymnastics, in particular, enjoyed a record-breaking season, placing second at nationals with Olympian Sunisa Lee returning to compete after a year away.
The Culture of Winning: A New Auburn Era
So what’s behind Auburn’s 2025 athletic renaissance?
Much of the credit goes to Athletic Director John Cohen, who came from Mississippi State in 2022. Since arriving at Auburn, Cohen has streamlined operations, invested in analytics and nutrition, and prioritized facility upgrades — from baseball’s Plainsman Park renovation to a new basketball performance center currently under construction.
Cohen also empowered each head coach to build their programs their way. That trust has resulted in coaches recruiting fearlessly, developing relentlessly, and winning consistently.
But beyond the leadership, there’s a palpable shift in culture on The Plains. The entire athletic department is locked in on winning — not just occasionally, but institutionally. Success is no longer seen as an anomaly, but an expectation.
NIL and the Transfer Portal: Auburn’s Competitive Edge
Another key to Auburn’s 2025 success story has been its savvy navigation of the NIL era and transfer portal. Through a collaborative effort with collectives like On To Victory, Auburn has built competitive NIL packages that not only attract elite talent but also retain it.
This NIL prowess was crucial in keeping stars like Johni Broome and Landon Morris in Auburn orange rather than turning pro or transferring elsewhere. Auburn’s approach — transparent, athlete-focused, and community-driven — has turned it into a model for other SEC programs.
In the transfer portal, Auburn baseball picked up All-American closer Brandon Kaine from Wake Forest, while women’s basketball landed sharpshooter Kennedy Powell from UCLA. These additions filled key needs and helped transform strong rosters into elite ones.
Looking Ahead: Sustaining Excellence
With summer approaching, Auburn’s momentum shows no signs of slowing. The football program, now led by second-year head coach Hugh Freeze, is gaining traction on the recruiting trail and is poised for a top-15 preseason ranking.
Women’s soccer is coming off its best season in over a decade, and men’s golf just finished third at the NCAA Championships. In other words, Auburn is no longer just a football school or a basketball school — it’s a national athletic brand.
In the next academic cycle, Auburn will host SEC Championships in both swimming and gymnastics, and Plainsman Park is expected to be one of the top NCAA baseball Regional host sites again.
The 2025 athletic calendar has been nothing short of magical for Auburn University. With a College World Series berth, Final Four appearance, national track title, and across-the-board excellence, the Tigers have firmly positioned themselves as the top athletic program in the nation.
It’s a culmination of vision, investment, leadership, and above all — belief.
Auburn fans, who have long been among the most passionate in college sports, now have the results to match their pride. And as the Tigers continue to climb, one thing is clear: The Plains are roaring with a new, unmistakable energy.
