Breaking: ESPN names the Auburn Tigers men’s basketball cheerleading group the best in the world after their historic, jaw-dropping performance astounds an audience around the world.

In a groundbreaking and unprecedented announcement, ESPN has named the Auburn Tigers men’s basketball cheerleading group the best in the world, following a jaw-dropping performance that captivated audiences across the globe. From the roaring arenas of the SEC to viral social media acclaim, the Tigers’ cheerleading squad has become more than just a sideline presence — they’ve evolved into a global phenomenon and redefined the meaning of sports entertainment.

The historic recognition came on the heels of the team’s dazzling halftime performance during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four in Indianapolis. While the Auburn Tigers basketball team narrowly missed the championship game, their cheerleading counterparts left no doubt about who ruled the court in the realm of athletic performance and artistry. Their routine, a mix of athleticism, acrobatics, rhythm, and raw energy, stunned a global audience watching both in the arena and on screens around the world.

What was once a vibrant but relatively understated element of game-day spirit has now exploded into the international spotlight.

It started as a normal halftime performance, scheduled between Auburn’s gritty semifinal battle and a moment of rest for players. But what happened in those six minutes redefined expectations. The cheerleaders executed a flawless high-difficulty routine that included synchronized pyramid builds, rapid tumbling passes, and a gravity-defying basket toss that saw one flyer spin four times before landing cleanly to a thunderous ovation.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said former Olympic gymnast and current ESPN commentator Aly Raisman, who was covering the event live. “What they did out there was beyond cheerleading—it was world-class athletic performance, theater, and art all in one.”

Within hours, ESPN’s official social media accounts shared the performance, tagging it with one word: “Historic.” The clip went viral, amassing over 50 million views within 24 hours. Celebrities, athletes, and media personalities chimed in with praise.

Historically, collegiate cheerleading has thrived in passionate pockets, appreciated by those closely involved in athletics or campus life. But rarely, if ever, has a college cheer squad received this level of recognition. What Auburn’s squad has accomplished is not just winning a competition—it’s redefining their role on the national and international stage.

“People think cheerleaders are just doing chants and flips on the sidelines,” said Head Coach Rachel Kimball. “Our athletes train like Olympic gymnasts. They lift, run, practice four to five hours a day, and study choreography with the intensity of Broadway dancers. This recognition is the result of years of discipline, passion, and sacrifice.”

Kimball, who took over Auburn’s cheer program five years ago, has built the squad into a national powerhouse. She recruited elite talent, brought in choreographers from Cirque du Soleil, and infused the program with a culture of excellence. Her vision was to elevate Auburn cheer beyond the traditional limits—and it worked.

Shortly after ESPN’s announcement, the International Cheer Union (ICU), the governing body for competitive cheerleading worldwide, issued a statement of their own.

“The Auburn Tigers men’s basketball cheer squad’s Final Four performance is being studied by global programs as a benchmark for elite-level innovation, difficulty, and execution,” the ICU wrote. “They’ve raised the standard.”

Requests for interviews and international appearances began pouring in. Auburn has already been invited to perform in the Philippines, France, Brazil, and Japan later this year. The cheerleading world, long dominated by a handful of schools and professional outfits, now recognizes Auburn as a new and global standard-bearer.

Behind every tumbling pass and airborne stunt is a group of dedicated student-athletes with stories as compelling as their performances. Senior co-captain Marcus Delaney, a former elite gymnast who chose Auburn over offers from Big Ten schools, says the attention is surreal but deserved.

“We believed in ourselves before anyone else did,” Delaney said. “We were training like champions for years before the world noticed. This team is my family, and we always knew we had something special. To have ESPN and the world see it now? It’s emotional.”

Delaney credits much of the team’s unity to off-season retreats, a program initiated by Kimball that focuses on team bonding, leadership, and mental resilience. “What people saw on that court was the product of total trust,” he said. “You don’t throw someone 20 feet in the air unless you know they’re coming down safe.”

Sophomore flyer Jasmine Rayburn, who performed the record-breaking quad-twist during the routine, said she blacked out mid-air due to sheer focus. “I didn’t even hear the crowd. I was just thinking, ‘Hit your tuck, stay tight, land strong.’ Then the roar came, and I realized I nailed it.”

Since the performance, the Auburn cheer squad has amassed over 2 million new followers across TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). Their behind-the-scenes videos, training clips, and motivational content are reaching audiences who previously had little interest in cheerleading or college sports.

“There’s something magical about what they’re doing,” said ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. “They’re more than cheerleaders — they’re cultural icons now.”

Videos of young children trying to mimic their stunts have gone viral in turn, and the team has launched a training camp series to promote cheer safety and skill-building for youth programs.

The unexpected global spotlight has also brought massive attention to Auburn University. Applications to the school saw a 15% spike within days of the performance. The athletic department announced a surge in merchandise sales featuring cheer-themed designs, and donors have committed to renovating the cheer squad’s training facility.

“Auburn has always been a proud community,” said university president Dr. Christopher Roberts. “Now the world knows what we’re about — excellence, discipline, and joy. Our cheer squad embodies those values.”

There are even talks of adding a dedicated scholarship program for cheerleaders, modeled after traditional athletic scholarships, which would be a first in Auburn history.

In a special primetime segment, ESPN convened a panel of judges—including elite athletes, choreographers, and broadcasters—to evaluate cheerleading programs from across the world. The panel included Simone Biles, choreographer Derek Hough, and WNBA legend Sue Bird.

Each program was judged based on difficulty, execution, creativity, crowd engagement, and innovation. Auburn scored a perfect 10 in every category.

“They’re the best cheer team I’ve ever seen,” Hough said. “This is more than spirit. This is art. This is storytelling. This is danger and beauty rolled into one.”

With their newfound global recognition, the Auburn Tigers men’s basketball cheerleading team is not resting on their laurels. Coach Kimball confirmed the team is already working on a brand-new routine for the 2025-2026 season that she says will be “even more ambitious.”

“We’re not chasing awards,” she said. “We’re chasing impact. We want to show the world what’s possible when athletes commit to pushing the limits of their craft.”

Auburn is now in talks to release a documentary series chronicling the squad’s journey to the top. Streaming giants like Netflix and ESPN+ have expressed interest in producing a multi-part series showing the rigorous training, emotional highs and lows, and the human stories behind the perfection on stage.

In sports, there are moments that define not just games or seasons, but generations. Auburn’s cheerleading performance was one of them. It changed minds. It inspired hearts. It shattered ceilings. And in doing so, it gave the world a reason to cheer—not just for a team, but for the limitless potential of passion and performance.

In the words of ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt: “We came to watch basketball. We left talking about cheerleading. Auburn just flipped the script on what it means to own the spotlight.”