As pointed out earlier this offseason, the writers at Athlon Sports do not expect Auburn to pull many surprises in 2023.
The popular preseason publication forecasts a dead-last finish in the SEC West and suggests that quarterback play will lead them to that position. Ahead of the 2023 season, Auburn is No. 14 in Athlon Sports’ SEC’s quarterback rankings.
Athlon Sports feels that Auburn has the offensive line and running backs to make the push for bowl eligibility, but finding a quarterback to “make it all hum” will make the most difference. The preseason magazine projects that incumbent starter [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] will earn the starting quarterback job, but Michigan State transfer [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag]’s experience could change the entire perception of Auburn’s offense if he wins the job.
Either way, Auburn will need to prove many people wrong this season and they will have an uphill battle to overcome in order to do so.
Here is the rest of Athlon Sports’ SEC quarterback rankings prior to the 2023 season: