Auburn to honor 2025 Final Four team in Week 2 vs. Ball State
By Jyesha Nance
Published:
This Saturday, the 2025 Final Four Auburn basketball team will be honored during Auburn football’s home-opener against Ball State.
During the 2024-25 season, the Tigers were one of the top basketball programs nationally. They finished with a 32-6 record, clinched the SEC regular-season championship, maintained a rank within the AP Top 25 Poll, and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, beginning their road to the Final Four.
Their path to the Final Four was filled with many memorable moments. After defeating Alabama State, Creighton, and Michigan, the Tigers capped off their South Region title with a 70-64 win over Michigan State in the Elite Eight. That win featured a 9-point lead heading into halftime and a dominant performance by Johni Broome, who recorded 17 points and 11 rebounds in the first half. Broome led his team in points and rebounds that night, with a total of 25 points and 14 rebounds, helping the Tigers advance to a Final Four appearance against Florida.
In the semifinal, Auburn’s season ended in a hard-fought 79-73 loss to the Gators, but the Tigers’ place in history will forever be written.
The season was defined by star forward Johni Broome, who collected an array of honors, including SEC Player of the Year, the Karl Malone Award, and Sporting News National Player of the Year. Broome became the only Division I player to ever record 2,500 career points, 1,500 rebounds, and 400 blocks.
Head coach Bruce Pearl’s 11th season at Auburn was also a highlight. Pearl earned SEC Coach of the Year, NABC Coach of the Year, and AP Co-Coach of the Year honors. His leadership guided Auburn back to the Final Four for the second time in history, and solidified the program’s place among the nation’s top basketball programs.
The 2025 Final Four also carried national significance. For the second time since 1985, all 4 No. 1 seeds – Auburn, Florida, Duke, and Houston – advanced to college basketball’s biggest stage.
This weekend’s ceremony will give not just Auburn, but the nation a chance to look back on a season that combined excellence, grit, and history-making moments.
Auburn football hosts Ball State this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
