The Auburn Tigers are about to start their season, aiming to reverse their streak of three straight losing years. The influx of new talent has given fans hope for a brighter future, and head coach Hugh Freeze is diligently working to restore the team’s status as a powerhouse. This progress has garnered attention from analyst Greg McElroy, who strongly believes Auburn is on the right track. Despite being unranked in the preseason polls, McElroy expects the team to be ranked by the end of the year.
McElroy has noted the influx of young talent at Auburn and believes quarterback Payton Thorne will greatly benefit from it. He stated, “A team that’s currently unranked but will end the season in the rankings is Auburn. I have them in my Top 25. Although Auburn didn’t acquire a game-changing quarterback, Payton Thorne—who has previously won a NY6 bowl game and played for strong teams like Michigan State—has the potential to shine this season. Even if he didn’t elevate his previous teammates, they could elevate him, leading to a strong year for him.”
Auburn faces a challenging mid-season with road games against Georgia, Kentucky, and Missouri, preceded by a match against the new addition, Oklahoma. With several tough tests on the schedule and the offseason progress made, McElroy sees no reason Auburn shouldn’t succeed.
McElroy pointed out that Auburn has numerous opportunities throughout their schedule to secure significant, program-defining victories. He predicts that, by the end of the season, Auburn will finish with an 8-4 record and possibly achieve one or two major wins, which will enhance their reputation. “I believe Auburn will end the season in the Top 25. Currently, they only have two points in the poll, which is behind Kentucky’s three points and just ahead of Colorado, who had a 4-8 record last year.”
Auburn will start its season on August 31, facing the Alabama A&M Bulldogs at 6:30 p.m. CST in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
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