Auburn selects one coed cheerleading squad each spring: 10 women, 10 men and one Mic-Man. The most important thing to know before you plan anything is that Auburn tryouts are only open to current Auburn students. High school seniors and incoming freshmen can’t try out. This guide covers the rules, skills and timeline from Auburn’s official 2026 Tryout Information Packet.

Who Can Try Out

For the 2026-27 squad, Auburn required that candidates:

• Were enrolled full-time at Auburn in the Fall 2025 semester and are enrolled full-time in Spring 2026.
• Have an overall cumulative Auburn GPA of 2.0 or better.

The packet is explicit that these students can’t try out:

• First-semester Auburn students.
• Current high school students.
• Current transfer students still enrolled at another college or school.

In practice, that means you’d typically try out in the spring of your first year at Auburn, after completing a full fall semester there.

Skill Requirements

Auburn lists separate requirements for women, men and the Mic-Man.

Women

• Back handspring and standing back tuck.
• Toss extension and liberty.
• A dance to an Auburn band song (it may include tumbling or stunts).
• Auburn cheers and an optional stunt.
• An entrance that must include running tumbling: at minimum a round-off and at least three back handsprings in a row. Layouts, tucks and fulls are allowed.

Men

• Toss extension and liberty (as a base).
• An Auburn band song, which may include stunts.
• Auburn cheers and an optional stunt.
• An entrance, which may include running an Auburn flag. Tumbling isn’t required for men, but it can replace the flag run in the entrance.

Mic-Man

Mic-Man candidates perform Auburn’s traditional cheers: Bodda Getta, Track ‘Em, Two Bits, Spell Out Auburn (ending with War Eagle), Orange/Blue or Auburn/Tigers, It’s Great to Be an Auburn Tiger, a cheer of their choice and an entrance. They’re also given game-day situations and must respond with a cheer that fits.

How the Tryout Works

Auburn’s tryout is a two-day process. For 2026 it ran:

• Day 1 (April 6): mandatory meeting and technical skills.
• Day 2 (April 7): interviews for those who make callbacks, followed by callouts — the announcement of the new squad.

The application, a grade release form and a $50 cash application fee were due March 30. Clinics and tryouts are closed to the public.

Clinics

Auburn runs free pre-tryout clinics for current Auburn students. In 2026 there were five, between mid-February and late March, held at the old football indoor practice facility. You can hand in your tryout packet at a clinic. Auburn notes that clinics may be postponed if the squad is traveling to the NCAA basketball tournament.

If You Make the Squad

New cheerleaders must report for mandatory Two-A-Days — practices, meetings and a private camp — starting August 1. They may run until the first day of fall classes, and weekends are included. The application form says you may be dismissed if you miss them.

During the year, the squad cheers at:

• All football games, home and away.
• Men’s and women’s basketball, including SEC, NCAA and NIT tournaments.
• Home gymnastics, volleyball and soccer.
• Select baseball, softball and equestrian events.
• Community appearances.

How to Prepare

• Women: the running-tumbling entrance is a hard requirement. Build a round-off with three or more back handsprings, and make your standing tuck consistent.
• Men: toss extension and liberty are the core requirement, so strength and timing as a base matter most. See how to base in cheerleading.
• Flyers: lock in your extension and lib body positions. See our flyer technique guide.
• Everyone: go to the clinics. They’re free, they teach the Auburn material, and they’re the easiest way to turn in your paperwork.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can incoming freshmen try out for Auburn cheer? No. Auburn doesn’t allow first-semester students or current high school students to try out. You need a full fall semester at Auburn first.

What GPA do I need? An overall cumulative Auburn GPA of 2.0 or better.

Do men need to tumble? No. Tumbling is optional for men and can replace the flag run in the entrance.

How many cheerleaders does Auburn select? One coed squad of 10 women, 10 men and one Mic-Man.

Who do I contact? Spirit Coordinator Latisha Durroh at latisha@auburn.edu. Auburn also posts updates on Facebook (Auburn Cheerleading), X (@aucheerleading) and Instagram (Auburn Cheerleaders).

Related Resources

• SEC Cheer Tryout Guides
• University of Alabama Cheerleading Tryout Guide
• Mississippi State Cheer Requirements
• College Cheerleading Tryout Guides Directory
• Cheerleading Glossary

Sources: Auburn Athletics, Cheerleading Tryout Information (2026 Tryout Information Packet and Tryout Application) and the Auburn Cheerleading page. Dates are from the 2026 cycle; Auburn notes that all dates and requirements are subject to change. Last checked September 23, 2026.