For the first time in school history, the Auburn Tigers have been named the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. It’s a moment that signals a full-circle journey for a program that, not long ago, hovered in the shadow of SEC bluebloods and March Madness giants. Now, they sit atop the entire 68-team field—respected, feared, and fully expected to contend for the national title.
This selection comes after a remarkable 31-2 regular season, an SEC Championship, and a dominance that few programs could match in 2024-25. From the first tipoff of the year, Auburn demonstrated they were built differently—disciplined on defense, explosive on offense, and led by a seasoned coaching staff with one clear mission: to cut down the nets in April.
The Tigers’ historic rise to the top of the bracket is the culmination of years of consistent recruiting, elite player development, and a culture rooted in belief. Head coach Bruce Pearl has engineered one of the most complete rosters in college basketball—one that boasts experience, athleticism, and a championship mindset. The Tigers didn’t just win games this season—they overwhelmed opponents with size, speed, and surgical execution.
Their path to the No. 1 overall seed wasn’t without challenges. They faced a grueling SEC schedule that included top-ten clashes against Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama. They endured injuries, hostile environments, and relentless pressure. But they never folded. In fact, they thrived. Auburn closed the regular season on a 13-game winning streak, including double-digit wins over three top-25 teams. Their performance in the SEC Tournament sealed their case: a wire-to-wire victory capped by a 77-64 title game win against Tennessee, where their depth and defensive tenacity again proved too much to handle.
And now, the reward—a spot atop the bracket, representing the South Region, with a clear path to Glendale, Arizona for the Final Four.
Auburn’s first-round matchup will be against the winner of the First Four game between two No. 16 seeds, but no one inside that locker room is taking anything for granted. The team knows history—No. 1 overall seeds are expected to win, but expectations don’t guarantee success. Each game is a new test, and the Tigers are treating every opponent with the same focus and intensity that got them here.
At the heart of this Auburn team is All-American guard Miles Kelly, who transferred from Georgia Tech and instantly became the engine of this offense. Kelly averaged 18.7 points per game, shot 41% from three, and brought a veteran calmness to big moments. His leadership and ability to create his own shot in crunch time has been the difference in several close games. He’s the kind of player that March legends are made of—one who relishes the spotlight and never shies away from taking the big shot.
But Auburn’s strength isn’t just in one player—it’s in its collective depth. The Tigers boast a starting five that can all score in double digits, and a bench that ranks among the most productive in the country. Junior forward Johni Broome, despite missing time late in the season due to injury, was a dominant presence in the post for much of the year. Sophomore guard Tre Donaldson has emerged as one of the nation’s most improved players, and his ability to orchestrate the offense and pressure the ball defensively has become invaluable.
Then there’s the glue guys—defenders like Denver Jones and stretch forwards like Chaney Johnson, who do the little things that don’t always show up on the stat sheet but are essential to winning basketball. Auburn can switch everything on defense, crash the boards with ferocity, and run the floor with purpose. Their transition game is lethal. Their half-court offense is patient and precise. They rank top 10 nationally in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
This is what a No. 1 overall seed is supposed to look like.
But if Auburn wants to make history, it will need to navigate the minefield that is the NCAA Tournament. Teams like North Carolina, Kansas, Houston, and UConn all lurk as top seeds in their own regions. Cinderella teams with nothing to lose and everything to prove are ready to pounce. And of course, the pressure will only mount with each win. The last team to win a national championship as the No. 1 overall seed? Baylor in 2021. Since then, the title has eluded even the tournament’s highest-ranked teams.
Still, there’s something different about this Auburn group. They aren’t just happy to be here. They expect to win. There’s a calm, confident energy around the team that stems from the leadership of Coach Pearl, who is making his 13th NCAA Tournament appearance and his fifth with Auburn. Under Pearl, the Tigers made their first-ever Final Four in 2019. That team shocked the basketball world. This team wants to own it.
Pearl spoke with emotion and pride after the bracket was revealed.
“I’ve been coaching a long time,” he said. “And I’ve never been prouder of a group than I am of these guys. They’ve earned every bit of this. But now, the work really begins. Being the No. 1 overall seed is an honor—but we want to be the last team standing. That’s the goal.”
Across the country, fans and analysts alike are buying into the Auburn hype. ESPN’s Jay Bilas called them “the most balanced team in America,” while CBS’s Clark Kellogg said, “There’s no glaring weakness on this roster. They can win in a shootout, they can win in a grind-it-out defensive game, and they’ve been tested. That’s a championship recipe.”
Ticket sales for Auburn’s first and potential second-round games in Charlotte are already spiking. The fanbase, long considered among the most passionate in college sports, is ready to travel. Social media is ablaze with predictions, watch parties, and celebratory videos. This isn’t just a big moment for the basketball program—it’s a defining moment for Auburn University.
What happens next is up to the players. They’ve already etched their names in history as the school’s first-ever No. 1 overall seed. But the true legacy will be written in the next three weeks. Every dribble, every possession, every game will be magnified. This is the time of year when heroes are born and banners are earned.
Auburn isn’t shying away from it. They’ve embraced the pressure, the spotlight, the expectations. And if their regular season is any indication, they’re more than ready for the madness ahead.
The road to Glendale runs through Auburn—and for the first time, every other team in the field will have to go through them.
