On today’s episode of Longshore and McKnight, John and Barry dive into Alabama’s decision to cancel its future home-and-home series with West Virginia , and noting how the shift reflects the SEC’s nine-game scheduling grind beginning in 2026.
East Carolina will replace the Mountaineers, leaving Auburn fans to wonder how their own permanent rivalries will shake out under the new format. With Alabama expected to keep Auburn and Tennessee locked in, the third opponent remains under debate, while Auburn’s mix with Georgia already in place leaves uncertainty about whether Vanderbilt could be added.
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Attention quickly turned to Auburn’s immediate future, with Friday’s opener at Baylor setting the stage for what the hosts pegged as an 8–4 or 9–3 season.
Quarterback Jackson Arnold’s NIL deal with Dude Wipes drew equal parts humor and admiration, seen as both clever marketing and a sign of how far brand tie-ins have come.
Off the field, the duo poked fun at Cracker Barrel’s return to its old logo, before welcoming former Vanderbilt standout CJ Duncan, who spoke about the anticipation players feel in game week after months of grinding practices. The mix of scheduling intrigue, season forecasts, and culture-laced commentary reflected the high-stakes, high-energy backdrop of college football’s opening week.
