For the second season in a row, Auburn football finished sub-.500 last fall. A five-game losing streak in the heart of the season and the firing of Bryan Harsin tainted the Tigers’ 2022 campaign.

This season, however, the Tigers are turning over a new leaf with first-year head coach Hugh Freeze, who returns to the SEC after winning at least eight games in each of his four seasons at Liberty.

To college football’s prognosticator Phil Steele, the Auburn-Freeze marriage might get off on good footing in year one.

Here’s everything Steele, who for 26 years has published one of the most accurate preseason magazines, said about Auburn and the SEC.

Offensive forecast

With eight starters returning to the Tigers’ offense, more stability (and options) at quarterback, a beefed up offensive line and former Tulsa head coach Phillip Montgomery taking on the role of offensive coordinator, Steele predicts Auburn’s offense will improve. After averaging 379 yards per game and 24.8 points per game in 2022, Steele predicts a jump to 391 yards per game and 29.2 points per game.

Defensive forecast

Auburn has added a handful of transfers to its defensive unit, especially along the front line. The addition of four Power 5 transfers to the defensive line is set to help the Tigers’ rush attack, while four line backer transfers will be tasked with replacing Derick Hall and Owen Pappoe. On the backend, Nehemiah Pritchett and DJ James return as one of the best cornerback tandems in the league. With Ron Roberts coming from Baylor to lead the Auburn defense and nine returning starters, Steele projects another improvement with the Tigers allowing 23.5 points per game, compared to 29.2 points per game in 2022.

2023 forecast

To the delight of Auburn fans, Steele not only expects a winning season for the Tigers, but predicts Freeze will avoid the hotseat with his team buying into the leadership of himself and associate head coach Cadillac Williams.

Where will the Tigers land in SEC West?

Despite expecting Auburn to improve across the board in 2023, Steele sees the Tigers finishing sixth in the SEC West – which is headlined by Alabama while Mississippi State brings up the rear.

How do Auburn’s positional units rank in the SEC?

Quarterbacks – No. 13

Running backs – No. 5

Receivers – No. 12

Offensive line – No. 9

Defensive line – No. 8

Linebacker – No. 9

Defensive backs – No. 4

Special teams – No. 8

Which Auburn players landed on Steele’s preseason All-SEC team?

First team – none

Second team – RB Jarquez Hunter, DB Jehemiah Pritchett

Third team – K Alex McPherson, P Oscar Chapman, KR Brian Battie

Fourth team – none