Auburn football has failed to live up to expectations since last reaching the SEC Championship game in 2017. Because of this, the program is on its third head coach since 2020.
Auburn has failed to reach at least seven wins since 2019, which could change this season says Will Backus of CBS Sports.
Backus recently shared his win projections for SEC teams ahead of the 2024 season and whether or not the total is reachable. Auburn is projected to reach 7.5 wins this season, which is a great sign considering the Tigers ended with six wins in 2023. Backus feels confident that Auburn can reach the over this season by winning eight games.
Hugh Freeze has put in a lot of work upgrading Auburn’s talent level given the situation he inherited. The Tigers have specifically flipped both lines of scrimmage and the skill talent around quarterback Payton Thorne. While Thorne himself may be a limiting factor after a lackluster debut with the Tigers in 2023, Auburn seems restocked enough to comfortably make a bowl against a manageable schedule.
The SEC has scrapped divisional play this season as Oklahoma and Texas prepare to enter the conference. Because of this, Auburn will not face Ole Miss or LSU this season, two of the former Western divisions toughest powers. Auburn will still face College Football Playoff hopefuls Alabama and Georgia, but its schedule becomes manageable with more even teams such as Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and Texas A&M.
Backus does not see Auburn beating the Bulldogs or Crimson Tide, and projects losses to Oklahoma and Missouri. However, the latter could easily be turned into wins, especially with Oklahoma playing on the road at Jordan-Hare Stadium in late September.
According to Backus, Auburn is expected to win more games than Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Florida, and Arkansas. Auburn is also expected to win the same number of games as Oklahoma. Texas and Georgia are the only SEC teams projected to win at least 10 games this season.
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