Few teams in college football enter the upcoming season with as much unpredictability as Auburn. Coming off a 5-7 season, the Tigers are far from SEC favorites. Yet, analysts believe they could surprise the conference in 2025 because of their revamped roster.
With high-profile transfers, including star quarterback Jackson Arnold and a stacked group of receivers, Auburn has built a high-risk, high-reward lineup that could reshape its standing in the SEC. But can head coach Hugh Freeze turn his bold offseason strategy into real wins? Some believe the Tigers might turn out to be the SEC’s biggest wild card.
Auburn’s High-Risk, High-Reward Offseason Could Redefine Their SEC Standing
In a recent episode of “That SEC Football Podcast,” hosts SEC Mike and Cousin Shane ranked every SEC team based on their offseason performance. And guess what? Auburn came in at No. 3—a surprise pick that no one saw coming. Before this, hardly anyone had Auburn on their radar.
SEC Mike kicked things off by highlighting Auburn’s major roster shake-up.
“Twenty-three players left through the portal,” he said. “23 players left via the portal, but only two of them had more than three starts last year for the Auburn Tigers.” That might sound scary at first, but Mike stressed that the program just lost depth, not their star power.
Now, let’s talk about what they gained. Auburn landed one of the top quarterback prospects in the country—Jackson Arnold. Alongside him, they brought in wide receiver talent like Eric Singleton from Georgia Tech and Horriio Fields from Wake Forest. These additions have the potential to transform Auburn’s offense.
“The hope is with Jackson Arnold,” Mike said. “He’ll have maybe the best receiving corps in the SEC.”
Cousin Shane also emphasized why he sees the Tigers as the ultimate wild card in the SEC.
“If I were playing NCAA, these are the kids I wanted. You know, they were the big names, the heavy hitters. I’m gonna go out, get a couple receivers and a quarterback, and I’m gonna change the trajectory of this program.”
The offense may look exciting, but their defense faces serious questions from both analysts. They lost seven defensive backs and three quarterbacks to the portal.
The Tigers will depend on rising stars like Demarcus Riddick, who earned SEC All-Freshman honors after recording 17 solo tackles and 3 sacks in 2024. Keldric Faulk, expected to be a top-10 NFL draft pick, will likely lead Auburn’s pass rush.
KEEP READING: How Is Auburn QB Jackson Arnold Developing? Hugh Freeze Gives Latest Update
Head coach Hugh Freeze is under pressure, too. His record of 11-14 in two seasons with the program hasn’t been impressive.
Cousin Shane summed it up best, saying, “This is a team that could flirt with those playoffs because of how aggressive they were in this offseason.”
No doubt, they will face tough SEC competition, but if their roster gels and their new quarterback delivers, Auburn might stun the conference. As Mike put it, “Isn’t it just the Auburn way? They could win the national championship, or they could go 4-8.”
With a high-risk, high-reward approach this offseason, Auburn is one of the most unpredictable teams heading into 2025. Whether they rise or fall, the Tigers will definitely be one of the most exciting teams to watch in the SEC.
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