Predicting the 2025 Alabama Football Season: Auburn Tigers

Will it be old Auburn or same old Auburn? | Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images

Last and least of the wild blind dart-throwing predictions of Alabama SEC opponents is the eternal soap opera in Lee County.

GAME 12, NOV 29: AUBURN TIGERS

Coach: Hugh Freeze (11-14, 5-11 SEC after two seasons at Auburn)

2024 record: 5-7 (2-6 in SEC, 14th in the conference, no Bowl)

CB 2023 Prediction: 7-5, I don’t think anyone picked a home loss to Cal.

Looking back: After a cupcake game, the Tigers had a baffling faceplant at home against Cal that set the tone for the whole season. Another cupcake was followed by four straight SEC

losses including Arkansas at home. Respite came in a W at Kentucky, but then Aub dropped another homer against Vandy. The War Eagles finally got a home win over Texas A&M in an insane 4 overtime game. But Bama clinched the AU losing season with a good old-fashion ass-whupping in Tuscaloosa.

Returning starters: 5 on offense, 5 on defense, placekicker.

Key losses: RB Jarquez Hunter (Round 4, Rams), WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (Round 5, Chargers), LB Jalen McLeod (Round 6, Jaguars), LB Eugene Asante (grad), DT Philip Blidi (grad), QB Payton Thorne (grad), TE Rivaldo Fairweather (grad), WR Robert Lewis (grad), leading tackler LB Dorian Mausi (grad), Isaiah Raikes (grad), second leading tackler S Jerrin Thompson (grad)

Top returnees: DE Keldric Faulk, WR Cam Coleman (37-598-8), WR Malcolm Simmons (40-451-3), C Connor Lew, PK Alex McPherson, S Kaleb Harris, G Dillon Wade, CB Kayin Lee, S Sylvester Smith

Top newcomers: WR Eric Singleton (56-754-3, from Georgia Tech), QB Jackson Arnold (Oklahoma), OT Xavier Chaplin (Virginia Tech), OT Mason Murphy (Southern Cal), WR Horatio Fields (Wake Forest)

Questionable: Alex McPherson was sidelined most of 2024 with gastrointestinal issues. Aub got a transfer punter from Okie State, but he was average at Stillwater.

Strengths: Wide receivers… Faulk should wreak havoc… Offensive line should be improved… More favorable schedule…

Weaknesses: Head Coach antics… Questionable quarterbacks and running backs… Beyond Faulk, Aub needs more defensive front production… Tight end… Linebackers are unproven…

LOL: The Auburn staff writers at On3 sure are pumping sunshine.

Outlook: Auburn has not won seven games in a season since 2019. Let that sink in. It’s also the last time the Tigers won more than three SEC games in an 8-conference game season format. They have lost seven games in each of the last four seasons and have not won a bowl game since 2018.

A big factor for success this year is whether Jackson Arnold can finally live up to his 5-star recruiting rankings coming out of high school. Another is finding a feature back after years of Jarquez Hunter and Tank Bigsby. Most importantly, can Freeze stay out of this own way? Many of the team’s difficulties the last two campaigns have stemmed from his bungling decisions.

FanDuel Win Total Odds

Over 7.5 -142 (bet $142 to win $100)
Under 7.5 +116 (bet $100 to win $116)

2025 AUBURN FOOTBALL SCHEDULE:

Fri, Aug 29 @ Baylor – L – These two teams are pretty evenly-matched. Every betting outlet has Aub as a slight favorite on the road. That is enough for me to pick the Bears.
Sat, Sep 6 vs Ball State – W
Sat, Sep 13 vs South Alabama – W
Sat, Sep 20 @ Oklahoma – L – Roadie.
Sat, Sep 27 @ Texas A&M – L – Feels like a high-scoring game.
Sat, Oct 4 bye
Sat, Oct 11 vs Georgia – L
Sat, Oct 18 vs Missouri – W – This could easily go the other way.
Sat, Oct 25 @ Arkansas – W – Don’t hold me to this one.
Sat, Nov 1 vs Kentucky – W – The return of Zach Calzada.
Sat, Nov 8 @ Vanderbilt – W
Sat, Nov 15 bye
Sat, Nov 22 vs Mercer – W
Sat, Nov 29 vs Alabama – L

Similar to last year, the OOC Power game could set the tone for the season. A good deal of media members ridiculously think that Auburn will split the UGA and Bama games because they are played at home. It’s advantageous to be in friendly confines, but that is a difficult scenario to envision. Missing Tennessee, Ole Miss, LSU, Florida, Texas and South Carolina is pretty nice.