Bruce Pearl gives definitive take on potential No. 1 AP poll ranking for Auburn

Auburn had to battle through most of the second half without Johni Broome but pulled through Saturday afternoon in Columbia. South Carolina had the No. 2 team in the country on the ropes but fell just short of the upset. Bruce Pearl‘s team continues an undefeated start to SEC play and might even be No. 1 on Monday in the AP poll.

Tennessee has held the spot for a few weeks but lost to Florida on Tuesday in blowout fashion. The Vols will be dropping and give Auburn an opportunity to rise. It’s something Pearl wants for his program, even if the overall goal is to be No. 1 the first weekend of April.

“It matters to me because it’s history,” Pearl said. “I’d rather be number one at the end of the year, but we’ll take it. We’ll take it when we can get it.”

Auburn has been No. 1 in the AP just once in its history, having the honor for three weeks. Back during the 2021-2022 season, a win against Kentucky vaulted the Tigers to the top spot in late January. The honor lasted for three weeks before losing in overtime to Arkansas on the road, dropping back to No. 2.

Pearl will be the first to point out the season did not end how they wanted, though. Auburn was a one-and-done at the SEC Tournament before earning a two-seed in the NCAA Tournament. A routine win against Jacksonville State turned into an upset loss against Miami, a team that eventually made the Final Four.

Getting the job done in March is everyone’s ultimate goal on the Plains. And the journey is just getting underway with a lot of SEC games still remaining. Whether or not the AP poll places Auburn as the No. 1 team on Monday, the tests are just going to keep on coming.

Mississippi State will come to Neville Arena on Tuesday before facing Georgia in Athens on Saturday. Both teams are considered to be in the current NCAA Tournament field by ESPN’s Joe Lunardi. Georgia is a nine-seed while Mississippi State is the South’s two-seed, the same region as Auburn.

Pearl wants to see history in the AP poll but will make sure his team’s main focus is continuing to find ways to win games.