The Auburn University football team will be looking to surpass the six-win mark this season for the first time since 2019. There are plenty of reasons why a seven-win season would be easy for the Tigers, but just as many reasons why it wouldn’t be.
In their preseason magazine, Lindy’s Sports broke down some of the factors that will make Auburn successful and some of the reasons why Auburn may struggle in 2024. Starting with the bad news, changes surrounding Auburn’s coaching staff and a tough October could determine whether the Tigers make it or not this season.
Auburn will have two new coordinators this fall in Derrick Nix (offensive coordinator) and DJ Durkin (defensive coordinator). Auburn has had a run of coordinators and a lack of success on the field due to mismatched philosophies and expectations. Success on both sides of the football this season could see Auburn’s coordinators stick around for more than one season, which could benefit the program in the long run.
Auburn will also play three tough opponents on the road in October, starting with a matchup against Georgia on Oct. 5. After a week off, Auburn will travel to Cotton Bowl champion Missouri on Oct. 19 and close the month with a trip to Kentucky on Oct. 26. After starting the season with five winnable home games, Auburn will get to see how much they have improved during the month of October.
Quarterback remains an issue for Auburn this season, as the Tigers were 121st nationally in passing performance last season, according to Lindy’s. Quarterback play also appears to be a strength, as the team added six talented receivers through both the transfer portal and high school recruiting. It also helps that tight end Rebaud Fairweather, the team’s top receiver, is returning for another year. Auburn will have an experienced offensive line this season, and special teams should be as strong as ever.
Overall, Lindy’s Sports expects Auburn University to move in a positive direction this season.
Auburn, with some talented newcomers and experienced veterans on both sides of the ball, should be better and more consistent than they were in 2023. A number of coaching changes, including both coordinators, should have a positive impact, but will games at Georgia and Alabama, plus a game at Oklahoma with Jordan-Hare on the line, improve their overall performance as well?
Auburn football will return 14 starters next season and have experience in several key areas. How many wins will Auburn have in 2024?
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This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire
