Auburn Has a Running Back Problem Every SEC Team Would Love to Have

Heading into the first game of the season, the Auburn Tigers have a great problem on their hands. 

With the team one week away from traveling to Atlanta to take on the Baylor Bears in Week 1 action, questions still circulate on how they will distribute the football in the backfield. 

Although that may seem like a concern, it's not. Alex Golesh, offensive coordinator Joel Gordon, and the rest of the Tigers have plenty of options to choose from in the running back room.

So how will they ensure that everybody eats? 

Before we get to the running backs, you must acknowledge the dual-threat quarterback, Byrum Brown. Last season, before transferring to Auburn, he rushed for over 1,000 yards at South Florida. It wouldn't be surprising if Brown led the team in both carries and yards in 2026, especially early on in the year, due to the familiarity of Golesh's fast-paced offensive scheme. 

But Brown has a much more dangerous running back room this season at Auburn than he did last year in the American Conference. 

Jeremiah Cobb leads the room for the Tigers and will likely get the most carries out of all running backs to begin the season. Many believe Cobb has the pedigree to be seen as one of the best running backs in the SEC, as last season he neared 1,000 yards on the ground while only taking over the starting reins towards the second half of the season. 

These two will likely hold the bulk of the carries on most Saturdays, but that doesn't mean there's a huge step backward when they rotate in other running backs.

Heading into the first week of the year, there are two other names that you must be aware of when the Tigers take on Baylor.

Former Bears running back Bryson Washington has quickly found himself in the argument for decent usage at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

After a slow start with Auburn after transferring from his former Big 12 school, Alex Golesh stated after the second scrimmage of fall camp that Washington is beginning to look like the running back they hoped to have heading into the year. 

It would certainly be a spectacle if Washington could go off on his former team to begin the season; however, it's uncertain how many carries they'll give him to begin the year. 

And finally, but certainly not least, sophomore running back Omar Mabson has certainly been one of the darlings of the offseason for the Auburn Tigers. 

At the beginning of fall camp, both Alex Golesh and Joel Gordon mentioned how much Mabson has surprised them, and others praised Mabson positively without even being asked about him. Many also believe he has won the RB2 job over Washington entering the season. 

So with at least four weapons for the Tigers to carry the football (not including the wide receivers or tight ends on this team), Auburn is in a much better situation than they were a year ago. If this offense is even a step remotely better than it was last year, this team could quickly find themselves in contention in every game they play this season.