Auburn is eleventh in the SEC media’s preseason poll on projected order of finish in the conference.

The Auburn Tigers are once again at a crossroads in their football program, as they find themselves slotted eleventh in the SEC media’s preseason poll for the projected order of finish in the conference. This ranking, while not necessarily a reflection of Auburn’s potential, highlights the challenges the team faces heading into the season and the stiff competition in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). For the Auburn faithful, the poll’s projection is both a call to arms and a sobering reminder of the work ahead to return to the upper echelons of college football.

As one of the most storied programs in the SEC, Auburn has a legacy of success and a fanbase that demands excellence. However, with significant turnover and a sense of uncertainty surrounding the team’s direction, the Tigers have found themselves struggling to regain the dominance they once had in the conference. The eleventh-place prediction serves as a clear indication that the media sees Auburn as a team with plenty of questions to answer heading into the season.

Auburn’s football program has been through a number of transitions in recent years. From coaching changes to roster shifts, the Tigers have had difficulty establishing consistency. Under former head coach Bryan Harsin, Auburn faced a tumultuous period that saw a lack of offensive identity, defensive struggles, and an overall inability to compete with the top-tier programs in the SEC. After a disappointing tenure, Harsin was dismissed, and the university turned to Hugh Freeze to lead the program into a new era.

Freeze, a former head coach at Ole Miss and Liberty, brings with him a wealth of experience and a reputation for revitalizing football programs. His offensive-minded approach and his success at the Group of Five level have earned him praise, but the SEC is an entirely different beast. While Auburn fans are hopeful, there are still many unknowns about how Freeze’s system will mesh with the talent on the current roster and how quickly he can build a competitive team in one of the toughest conferences in college football.

One of the most significant challenges Freeze faces is rebuilding the quarterback position. Auburn’s quarterback play has been inconsistent in recent years, with a lack of a clear leader under center. This offseason, Freeze brought in Payton Thorne from Michigan State, hoping the veteran QB can stabilize the position and lead the offense. Thorne’s experience, combined with his ability to make plays with his legs, gives Auburn fans reason for optimism, but it’s still unclear how he will adjust to SEC competition after playing in the Big Ten. The question remains: can Thorne be the quarterback that leads Auburn back to the upper half of the SEC?

On the defensive side of the ball, Auburn remains a work in progress. Despite producing some solid defensive players over the years, the Tigers have often struggled to put together a consistently dominant defensive unit. Freeze will need to continue to develop the defense while also upgrading talent in key areas, especially along the defensive line and in the secondary. Fortunately for Auburn, Derrick Hall, one of the team’s standout pass rushers, is heading to the NFL, but replacing his production will be no small task.

Auburn’s offensive line is also in a state of flux. Historically, the Tigers have relied on a strong, physical offensive line to control the line of scrimmage, but this has been a weak point in recent seasons. Freeze will need to bolster the offensive line to give his quarterbacks time in the pocket and create running lanes for the backfield. Without solid play upfront, it will be difficult for Auburn to compete with the SEC’s powerhouse teams.

The SEC is widely regarded as the most competitive and challenging conference in college football. With teams like Georgia, Alabama, LSU, and Tennessee in the mix, Auburn’s eleventh-place preseason ranking doesn’t come as a complete surprise. The Tigers are currently viewed as one of the middle-of-the-pack teams in the SEC West, which is always one of the most difficult divisions in all of college football.

Georgia, the defending national champions, is once again poised to dominate the conference, and they sit comfortably at the top of the SEC East. Their talent, depth, and coaching under Kirby Smart make them the team to beat not just in the East but in the entire conference. Auburn, as a member of the West, won’t face Georgia during the regular season unless the two teams meet in the SEC Championship Game, but the dominance of teams like Georgia casts a shadow over the entire SEC.

In the SEC West, Auburn will have to contend with the likes of Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State. Alabama, as always, is a national contender under Nick Saban, while LSU is coming off a SEC West title and a strong season under Brian Kelly. Ole Miss, led by Lane Kiffin, has been a dynamic offensive force in recent years, and Mississippi State, under the guidance of Zach Arnett, is always tough in the trenches. Auburn’s schedule is one of the most daunting in the nation, and the Tigers will have to exceed expectations just to finish in the middle of the pack in the SEC West, let alone compete for an SEC title.

While the eleventh-place ranking is a reflection of Auburn’s current standing in the SEC, there are several areas in which the team must improve if they hope to exceed expectations and contend in a stacked conference.

1. Quarterback Play: As mentioned, the quarterback position has been a revolving door for Auburn in recent years. Payton Thorne, who transferred from Michigan State, will need to play at a high level to keep Auburn competitive. Thorne has the tools—he’s shown flashes of brilliance in his time at Michigan State—but he must prove he can handle the physicality and speed of the SEC. With a lack of proven depth behind him, Auburn will be relying on Thorne’s leadership and consistency.

2. Offensive Line Development: The success of the offense will depend largely on how well the offensive line performs. Freeze’s offensive system relies on a strong offensive line to establish the run and protect the quarterback. Auburn’s offensive line has been inconsistent, and while there are some talented players, they need to play as a unit if the offense is to thrive.

3. Defensive Improvement: Auburn’s defense, while solid in some areas, must improve overall to keep pace with the explosive offenses in the SEC. The front seven needs to create pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and the secondary must be more reliable in coverage. Auburn has produced talented defensive players in recent years, but they’ve often struggled to put it all together. Defensive coordinator Ron Roberts will need to build a more aggressive, attacking defense to compete with high-powered offenses like those of Alabama and LSU.

4. Consistency and Depth: One of Auburn’s biggest issues in recent years has been inconsistency. The Tigers have been able to pull off big wins but have often followed them up with disappointing losses. Auburn needs to develop a level of consistency week in and week out to have any chance of competing with the upper-tier SEC teams. Additionally, depth will be crucial as injuries inevitably occur. Auburn needs to build a deeper roster, especially in the trenches, to survive the grueling SEC schedule.

5. Coaching and Leadership: Hugh Freeze’s leadership will be tested in his first season at the helm of Auburn football. He has a proven track record of turning around programs, but the SEC is a different beast. Freeze will need to quickly establish credibility with his players, instill discipline, and create a culture of accountability. Auburn fans are hopeful that Freeze can bring the program back to prominence, but it will take time and a lot of hard work.

Despite the eleventh-place preseason ranking, there is reason for Auburn to be optimistic about the future. Hugh Freeze’s arrival is a significant step toward rebuilding the program, and his offensive system could unlock the potential of Auburn’s talent. The Tigers may not be the favorites to compete for an SEC title this season, but they have the potential to surprise some teams along the way.

The key to Auburn’s redemption will be in how the team comes together under Freeze’s leadership. If the Tigers can improve their offensive consistency, develop a more dynamic defense, and get steady play from the quarterback position, there’s a chance they can outperform their preseason ranking. But Auburn will have to be prepared for the challenges of the SEC, where every game is a battle and every opponent is capable of ruining a season.

For Auburn fans, the eleventh-place ranking serves as both a challenge and a rallying cry. The road to redemption won’t be easy, but with the right coaching, execution, and leadership, Auburn could very well surprise the college football world and move back toward the top of the SEC standings. The journey to reclaim the program’s former glory begins now, and the Tigers are ready to prove they are better than what the media has projected.