Auburn football returns to the field Saturday looking to further prove itself after its 73-3 win over Alabama A&M in Week 1.

Its next test will be a bigger challenge, facing its first Power 4 opponent of the year in Cal. The two teams played last season, with Auburn winning 14-10.

While Auburn won that game, it wasn’t a pleasant display to watch. It was the point in the season where head coach Hugh Freeze said the offense had ” gotten away from everything I know and I can’t help.”

The team is much different now than it was going into last season’s matchup, but still doesn’t go into the game without question marks.

Here are three questions ahead of Auburn’s matchup with Cal:

Will Auburn’s wide receivers show same dominance against better opposition?

Auburn’s receivers were unguardable against Alabama A&M.

Time after time, the Tigers gashed Alabama A&M through the air, even when the bulldogs played five or 10 yards off the ball.

Malcolm Simmons, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Cam Coleman and Perry Thompson were the most productive, but the room runs even deeper than that. While Simmons got the start in the slot in Week 1, Robert Lewis and former Cal quarterback Sam Jackson V will likely both be major players in the passing game.

Cal’s secondary is far from the toughest unit Auburn will see this season, but it’s a group that can cause problems. Cal intercepted UC Davis four times in its season opener. Much of that had to do with the confusion it caused with its coverages.

With that said, it will be on more than just the wide receivers to replicate last week’s performance in the passing game. Quarterback Payton Thorne had his best game in an Auburn uniform against Alabama A&M, but threw for less than 100 yards in last season’s game against Cal.

While throwing for over 300 yards against an overmatched opponent won’t get many people talking, doing it against a Power 4 opponent in Week 2 could begin to change the narrative around the offense from last season.

Can Auburn’s defense contain Jaydn Ott?

No other player on Cal’s offense poses as much of a threat as Ott, a junior running back. It’s also worth noting, though, that Ott might not be at 100% going into the game.

He left Cal’s season opener in the third quarter with an apparent ankle injury. Cal head coach Justin Wilcox called Ott “probable” for Saturday’s game, but didn’t give any more insight into the injury.

Ott rushed for 78 yards and scored Cal’s only touchdown of the game when Auburn and Cal played last season and finished the 2023 season with over 1,200 rushing yards.

He had 14 carries for 49 yards and two touchdowns in Cal’s season opener before leaving the game.

Auburn’s front seven is arguably the defense’s biggest strength with an experienced linebacker core and a deep rotation along the defensive line. Auburn will also likely get experienced interior defensive lineman Isaiah Raikes back for the game after he didn’t play against Alabama A&M.

Cal’s offensive production will likely start and end with Ott both in the run and passing game. If Auburn can contain him or shut him down altogether, it will be a recipe for success.

Will Auburn’s offensive line hold up?

Freeze expressed his concern over Auburn’s offensive line before the season started, and the Cal game will be its first real test.

When addressing the media on Monday, Freeze highlighted the challenges that Cal’s two defensive ends, Xavier Carlton and David Reese, pose for Auburn.

“You’ve got to have a plan for those guys,” he said when speaking to reporters.

The challenge comes with Auburn still playing somewhat of a rotation, particularly on the left side of the offensive line.

Redshirt freshman Tyler Johnson got the start at left tackle against Alabama A&M over veteran Mississippi State transfer Percy Lewis, but both players saw playing time. Johnson played well in his first career start but will undoubtedly face a step up in competition in Week 2.

Freeze maintained after the game they’re “gonna need both of them” when asked about the rep share between Johnson and Lewis.

Playing against two dangerous defensive ends, it will be interesting to see whether Freeze sticks with the relatively inexperienced Johnson, or if the more experienced Lewis gets more snaps.

Auburn could also slide left guard Dillon Wade to left tackle, a position he played throughout the 2023 season. In that case, Lewis could potentially slide in at guard.

Whichever direction Freeze and the staff decide to go along the offensive line, the matchup with Cal is an opportunity to get a better idea of how the unit stacks up.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m