A look at Auburn’s 2023 opponents as spring football has wrapped up
Since spring football is complete and the second transfer portal window is closed, up next? The regular season under first-year coach Hugh Freeze.
From the season opener vs. UMass to the season finale vs. Alabama in the Iron Bowl, we examine where each team on the Auburn Tigers 2023 schedule stands heading into fall camp.
Auburn post-spring Analysis
Week 1: vs. UMass, Sept. 2 at Jordan-Hare Stadium
2022-23 record: 1-11
Bowl Game: n/a
Final AP ranking: n/a
Post Spring Analysis
Brady Olson returns as starting quarterback and is in competition with Western Carolina transfer Carlos Davis and Georgia Tech transfer Taisun Phommachanh for the starting spot. UMass starts its season vs. New Mexico State, who faces Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium in November.
Week 2: at Cal, Sept. 9 at California Memorial Stadium (Berkley, CA)
2022-23 record: 4-8
Bowl Game: n/a
Final AP ranking: n/a
Post Spring Analysis
Cal is trying to gain traction in an ever-improving Pac-12 under Justin Wilcox. TCU transfer QB Sam Jackson looks to be the leader of the Golden Bears’ offensive attack. Showing dual-threat abilities, Jackson was 8-of-11 passes for 88 yards and ran four times for 42 yards during the spring game.
Week 3: vs. Samford, Sept. 16 at Jordan-Hare Stadium
2022-23 record: 11-2, 1st Southern Conference
Final AP ranking: n/a
Post Spring Analysis
Samford signal-caller Michael Hiers passed for 3,544 yards, 36 TDs, and four interceptions last season and is regarded as one of the top FCS quarterbacks. With FCS schools making competitive games vs. the top-level FBS programs, don’t be shocked if Samford’s dynamic offense keeps this game close than most Tigers fans want to see.
Week 4: at Texas A&M, Sept. 23 at Kyle Field (College Station, TX)
2022-23 record: 5-7, 2-6 SEC
Bowl Game: n/a
Final AP ranking: n/a
Post Spring Analysis
Conner Weigman and Max Johnson are in a quarterback battle as new offensive coordinator and former SEC head coach Bobby Petrino looks to help revive lofty expectations at Texas A&M. The Aggies added linebacker Jurriente Davis (Jackson State), cornerback Josh DeBerry (Boston College), fullback Jerry Johnson (Rice), running back David Bailey (Colorado State), and quarterback Jaylen Henderson (Fresno State) from the transfer portal since spring football ended.
Week 5: vs. Georgia, Sept. 30 at Jordan-Hare Stadium
2022-23 record: 15-0 (8-0)
Bowl Game: 65-7 win against Texas Christian University in National Championship Game.
Final AP ranking: 1
Post Spring Analysis
Broderick Jones and Warren McClendon didn’t allow a sack last season as offensive tackles during the Bulldogs’ national championship run. Replacing those linemen is perhaps a bigger question than who will fill Stetson Bennett’s shoes at quarterback. For the second-straight season, Georgia will have to deal with a massive loss in production on both sides of the ball. Only this time, they’re going for an unprecedented third-straight national title.
Week 6: at LSU, Oct. 14 at Tiger Stadium (Baton Rouge, LA)
2022-23 record: 10-4 (6-2 SEC) won SEC West lost to Georgia in SEC Championship.
Bowl Game: Defeated Purdue 63-7 in Citrus Bowl
Final AP ranking: 16
Post Spring Analysis
Jayden Daniels is back at quarterback after racking up 2,913 passing yards, 885 rushing yards, and 28 total TDs last season during a 10-4 campaign during head coach Brian Kelly’s first season at LSU. Daniels split first-team reps with Garrett Nussmeier during the spring game. LSU won’t have much time to ease into the season as they face trending College Football Playoff hopeful Florida State in the season opener.
Week 7: vs. Ole Miss Oct. 21 at Jordan-Hare Stadium
2022-23 record: 8-5 (4-4, SEC)
Bowl Game: Loss against Texas Tech 42-25 in Texas Bowl
Final AP ranking: n/a
Post Spring Analysis
Quinshon Judkins is one of the best running backs, and when paired with QB Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss is never far from spoiling anybody’s season. Chris Marshall and Tre Harris are substantial transfers that will work well with returning slot receiver Jordan Watkins as targets for Dart.
It’ll be interesting to see how Lane Kiffin handles his first game back in Auburn after rumors swirled around about him being a serious candidate to replace Bryan Harsin before Tiger athletic director John Cohen hired Freeze.
Week 8: vs. Mississippi State Oct. 28 at Jordan-Hare Stadium
2022-23 record: 9-4
Bowl Game: 19-10 win against Illinois in Reliaquest Bowl
Final AP ranking: 20
Post Spring Analysis
Mississippi State returns 11 starters from a team that went 9-4 and won the Reliaquest Bowl against Illinois. It’ll be the team’s first season after the untimely death of former head coach Mike Leach.
Will Rogers is the starting quarterback, and he’s adjusting to an offense that will look drastically different from the Air Raid under Leach. Former Auburn offensive line coach Will Friend is on the Bulldogs’ staff, which adds to the game’s intrigue.
Week 9: at Vanderbilt, Nov. 4 at FirstBank Stadium (Nashville, TN)
2022-23 record: 5-7 (2-6 SEC)
Bowl Game: n/a
Final AP ranking: n/a
Post Spring Analysis
As a freshman, AJ Swann completed 58.1 percent of his passes for 1,274 yards and 10 touchdowns to two interceptions last season. His progress will go a long way in determining how Vandy plays this year under head coach Clark Lea.
Week 10: at Arkansas, Nov. 11 at Razorbacks Stadium (Fayetteville, AR)
2022-23 record: 7-6 (3-5 SEC)
Bowl Game: n/a
Final AP ranking: n/a
Post Spring Analysis
KJ Jefferson is back at quarterback, and that’s a big deal for head coach Sam Pittman as Arkansas looks to bounce back from a down 2022. If the Razorbacks’ spring game is any indication, Isaiah Sategna should be a top target for Jefferson. Sategna had 95 yards and two touchdowns on three catches in the outing.
Week 11: vs. New Mexico State on Nov. 18 at Jordan-Hare Stadium
2022-23 record: (7-6)
Bowl Game: Won Quick Lane Bowl 24-19 against Bowling Green.
Final AP ranking: n/a
Post Spring Analysis
Diego Pavia threw for 1283 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. He also rushed for 443 yards and six touchdowns. Could the Aggies catch Auburn slipping between a likely challenging game on the road against Arkansas and hosting Alabama in the Iron Bowl?
Week 12: vs. Alabama, Nov. 25 at Jordan-Hare Stadium
2022-23 record: 11-2 (6-2 SEC)
Bowl Game: Won Sugar Bowl 45-20 against Kansas State.
Final AP ranking: 5
Post Spring Analysis
How Alabama will replace Bryce Young and Will Anderson will be the primary questions facing Nick Saban. The quarterback competition between Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson will go into fall camp. Tyler Buchner played for offensive coordinator Tommy Rees at Notre Dame; The pair are reunited in Tuscaloosa for the Crimson Tide. Will Buchner factor into the QB battle? There are questions for Bama, but this team considers last season’s 11-2 record and Sugar Bowl win a down year.