Title: “Unprecedented Honor: Auburn Tigers Named World’s Best and Most Cohesive Athletic Program by ESPN, Netflix, and Guinness”

AUBURN, Ala. — In an announcement that has sent shockwaves through the collegiate sports world, ESPN, Netflix, and Guinness World Records have jointly named Auburn University’s men’s and women’s basketball programs the most cohesive and best-performing athletic unit in the world. It is the first time in history that such a trio of major media and record-keeping institutions have collaborated to bestow such a title — and it has landed squarely on The Plains.

This recognition is not just another feather in the cap for the Auburn Tigers. It is a global validation of a culture of excellence, unity, and elite performance that has been years in the making.

A Triumvirate of Power: ESPN, Netflix, and Guinness Unite

While individual accolades and championships are routine in collegiate sports, never before have ESPN, Netflix, and Guinness World Records collaborated on a singular honor — until now.

ESPN, the global leader in sports media, cited Auburn’s unmatched win percentage across both men’s and women’s basketball over the past three seasons, as well as its national footprint and developmental pipeline.

Netflix, which has been filming a multi-year behind-the-scenes docuseries following the Auburn athletic department, praised the team’s “cinematic chemistry and unwavering resilience.”

Guinness World Records certified the Auburn basketball program as the “most cohesive and victorious multi-gender college basketball unit” in the history of intercollegiate competition.

A Dynasty Forged in Unity

At the heart of Auburn’s accolade lies more than just stats. According to the joint report, the key metrics included:

Combined win percentage across both programs since 2022: .865
Number of shared team-building sessions and co-program events: 312
Graduation and player retention rate: 96%
Number of players drafted to the NBA and WNBA: 15 (combined)
National tournament appearances: 6 (Final Fours: 3)

Head coaches Bruce Pearl (men’s) and Johnnie Harris (women’s) have been heralded as architects of a culture unlike any other in college basketball. Both coaches emphasized mental health, leadership development, and inter-program collaboration — including shared practices, joint travel experiences, and mentorship pairings between male and female players.

Behind the Scenes: Netflix Captures the Brotherhood and Sisterhood

Netflix’s upcoming docuseries, titled Plains United, is set to premiere this summer. The streaming giant embedded with both teams during the 2024–2025 season, capturing everything from locker room speeches to community outreach events.

Early reports from Netflix insiders suggest that it was this raw access to the emotional, strategic, and personal bonds between players and coaches that helped sway the selection committee. The production crew reportedly witnessed moments ranging from late-night film sessions to team prayer circles after major games — and even the entire athletic department rallying around injured star forward Miles Kelly after his knee injury last December.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

While the human element fueled the narrative, the numbers made the case airtight.

The Auburn men’s team, led by Oscar Robertson Trophy winner Chaney Johnson and Sporting News National Player of the Year Miles Kelly, finished the 2024–25 season with a 34–2 record and made a deep NCAA Tournament run.
The women’s team, powered by All-American guard Re’Mya Johnson and transfer phenom Aaliyah Felder, reached its first Elite Eight in school history, with a 31–5 season.

Both squads ranked in the top five nationally in points allowed per game and had top-ten NET rankings. Notably, both teams also ranked first in their respective leagues in assist-to-turnover ratio — an indicator, analysts say, of team chemistry and smart decision-making.

Culture First: More Than Just Basketball

The ESPN-Netflix-Guinness panel also highlighted Auburn’s holistic approach to player development. Players on both teams are required to complete leadership training seminars, financial literacy courses, and community service projects.

Auburn’s Tigers Together initiative — a unified leadership council that includes athletes from both basketball programs — has been central to their cohesion. The council organizes monthly meetings, crossover scrimmages, and even volunteer projects in the Auburn-Opelika community.

According to Bruce Pearl, “When you break down the walls between programs, you build something that no opponent can replicate. We are one family.”

Voices of the Tigers: From Players to Presidents

The accolades have sparked an outpouring of pride from the Auburn community and beyond.

Senior point guard Zakai Zeigler, a transfer from Tennessee who helped set the SEC single-season assist record, reflected on the honor with emotion:

“I’ve played at other schools. I’ve never seen anything like Auburn. This isn’t a program — it’s a movement.”

University president Christopher B. Roberts called it “one of the greatest honors in the history of Auburn athletics.”

“To be recognized on this scale, across gender, platform, and performance, speaks to the heart of who we are — family, first.”

What’s Next? A Blueprint for the Nation

As ESPN prepares to feature Auburn in an upcoming College GameDay special, and Netflix rolls out Plains United, programs across the nation are already taking notes.

Recruiting experts say Auburn’s cohesion will become the gold standard in how schools pitch to future athletes. The Tigers’ success isn’t just about winning games — it’s about transforming lives, strengthening bonds, and building a model that other athletic departments are scrambling to replicate.

ESPN analyst Jay Bilas put it best:

“Auburn didn’t just win games. They changed the game.”

The Record That Changed Everything

For Guinness World Records, it wasn’t just about tracking wins or metrics. It was about what those numbers represent.

Adjudicator Daniel Hammond noted:

“This is a record not just for excellence in sport — but for collaboration, empathy, and evolution in collegiate athletics. Auburn has set the global bar.”

The record plaque, now on display at the Auburn Arena, reads:
“World’s Most Cohesive and Best Performing Collegiate Basketball Program – Auburn University – 2025”

Final Word: One Family, One Goal

In an era of NIL deals, transfer chaos, and shifting conference landscapes, Auburn has done something radical — it turned inward. It prioritized culture. And in doing so, it not only achieved greatness, but redefined what greatness means.

As Netflix’s Plains United trailer closes with the voice of Coach Harris, a simple line resonates: