Breaking: Auburn Tigers Named 2025 Nation’s Best Athletic Program After Unprecedented Year of Dominance
The Tigers not only achieved success—they redefined it. Auburn became the only school ever to claim a national title and also reach the Final Four in men’s basketball, the Men’s College World Series in baseball, host and win a baseball regional, and compete in a New Year’s Six bowl game—all within the same academic year.
This level of comprehensive excellence across multiple high-profile sports has never been accomplished before. The 2025 Auburn Tigers didn’t just make history—they made it impossible to ignore.
From the moment the 2024-2025 academic athletic calendar began, something felt different on The Plains. There was a synergy across Auburn’s sports programs that transcended individual games or seasons. Coaches spoke of shared goals, athletes encouraged one another across disciplines, and fans sensed that something historic was brewing.
By June 2025, that sense had blossomed into reality.
Auburn finished the year as national champions in women’s gymnastics, made the Final Four in men’s basketball, powered through to the Men’s College World Series in baseball, hosted and won their baseball regional at Plainsman Park, and closed the football season with a thrilling Sugar Bowl victory over Ohio State.
No other athletic department has checked all those boxes in a single year. Not Alabama. Not Florida. Not even historically dominant schools like Stanford or UCLA. The 2025 Auburn Tigers did what no program before them could—and they did it with style, grit, and a whole lot of orange and blue heart.
The dominoes began to fall in February, when the Auburn women’s gymnastics team captured the university’s first-ever NCAA Championship in the sport. Under head coach Ashley Johnston, the Tigers peaked at precisely the right time, stunning perennial powers like Oklahoma and Florida with a dazzling final rotation on the floor exercise.
Senior gymnast Ava Martinez delivered a perfect 10.0 on the beam—her final collegiate performance—and was named the NCAA Gymnast of the Year. It was an emotional and symbolic moment, setting the tone for the rest of Auburn athletics.
“The energy on campus shifted after that,” said Athletic Director John Cohen. “Our athletes saw what was possible—and wanted a piece of it themselves.”
In March, all eyes turned to Auburn Arena and the hardwood, where head coach Bruce Pearl led the men’s basketball team to a historic Final Four appearance. It was Pearl’s second trip with Auburn—his first being in 2019—but this one felt different.
Led by sophomore phenom KJ Moore and defensive stalwart Malik Johnson, the Tigers rolled through the SEC tournament before clawing their way through a brutal NCAA bracket, defeating blue bloods like Kansas and Michigan State en route to a national semifinal showdown against UConn.
Though Auburn fell short of a national title, the Tigers’ gritty run to the Final Four captivated the nation and energized a fan base already roaring from the gymnastics triumph. Moore was later named a consensus All-American, and Pearl earned National Coach of the Year honors.
“I’ve been coaching a long time,” Pearl said. “But this group? They embodied what Auburn is all about—work, unity, and pride.”
The 2024 college football season had its share of ups and downs for Hugh Freeze’s squad, but when it mattered most, the Tigers delivered. Auburn closed the season with a 10-3 record and an invitation to the Sugar Bowl, where they faced powerhouse Ohio State.
In what became an instant classic, Auburn emerged victorious, 38–34, thanks to a last-minute touchdown pass from junior quarterback Tyrese Huntley to All-SEC wideout Camden Rivers.
The win secured Auburn’s first New Year’s Six bowl victory in over a decade and reinforced the program’s resurgence under Freeze.
“This win wasn’t just for us—it was for every Tiger who’s ever bled orange and blue,” said Huntley during the postgame celebration in the Superdome. “We’ve got something special going on in Auburn. And it’s just the beginning.”
Then came the spring—and Auburn baseball stole the spotlight. Head coach Butch Thompson’s club, already riding high from an impressive SEC season, earned the right to host a regional in the NCAA Tournament at a packed Plainsman Park.
Behind a lethal combination of power hitting and elite pitching, the Tigers swept through their regional and advanced to the Men’s College World Series in Omaha. Star pitcher Garrett “G-Train” Jenkins delivered back-to-back gems, and the Tigers reached the semifinals before falling to eventual champion Vanderbilt.
Even in defeat, Auburn’s deep postseason run galvanized the Auburn faithful and cemented the Tigers as a perennial force in college baseball.
“It’s been a dream year,” said Thompson. “You want your program to matter in June. And we did—big time.”
What set Auburn apart in 2025 wasn’t just the trophies or appearances—it was the unmistakable culture of excellence that permeated every corner of the athletic department.
Athletic Director John Cohen emphasized a “One Auburn” approach upon his hiring—and 2025 was its ultimate expression. Football players packed the arena to cheer on basketball. Gymnasts traveled to Omaha to support the baseball team. And fans, students, and alumni responded with record-setting attendance and donation numbers.
“Programs rise together when they believe in something bigger than themselves,” Cohen said. “This year, we all bought in.”
Let’s break down the résumé that earned Auburn the title of 2025 Nation’s Best Athletic Program:
- National Championship – Women’s Gymnastics
- Final Four – Men’s Basketball
- Men’s College World Series – Baseball (Top 4 finish)
- Regional Host and Champion – NCAA Baseball
- New Year’s Six Bowl Victory – Football (Sugar Bowl over Ohio State)
- SEC All-Sports Trophy Winner
- Top 10 Learfield Directors’ Cup Finish
No school in NCAA history had ever accomplished this combination of success in the same year. Not even close.
- Tyrese Huntley, QB (Football): Junior signal-caller with poise beyond his years. Finished with 3,700 passing yards and 33 total touchdowns. Projected first-round NFL pick.
- KJ Moore, G (Basketball): Averaged 19.2 points and 5.8 assists per game. Hit three game-winners in the NCAA tournament.
- Ava Martinez (Gymnastics): Perfect 10 on the beam in the championship. Team captain and emotional leader.
- Garrett Jenkins (Baseball): 1.88 ERA in the postseason with 22 strikeouts over 15 innings. MLB scouts are salivating.
With so many stars returning in 2025–26, the question now becomes: Can Auburn sustain this level of dominance?
Recruiting rankings suggest yes. Football inked a top-5 class. Basketball has secured two McDonald’s All-Americans. Gymnastics landed the No. 1 recruit in the country. And the baseball program continues to restock its bullpen with elite arms.
Still, sustaining greatness is always the hardest part. But if 2025 proved anything, it’s that Auburn is no longer a sleeping giant—it’s a full-on powerhouse.
“We’re not going anywhere,” said Cohen. “Auburn is a place where champions are built—not just once, but year after year.”
The 2025 Auburn Tigers didn’t just win games—they reshaped the expectations for what a collegiate athletic program can be. They inspired a community, shattered records, and raised banners across multiple sports.
Years from now, Auburn fans will remember where they were when Ava stuck her landing, when KJ dropped 30 on Michigan State, when Huntley found Rivers in the end zone, and when the roar at Plainsman Park echoed into the Omaha night.
They’ll remember 2025 not just as a great year—but as the greatest year in Auburn sports history.
And maybe—just maybe—the greatest year in any school’s history.
