By Matt Smith
SouthernPigskin.com

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Matt Smith previews the 2022 Auburn Tigers.

2022 SEC Season Preview: Auburn
AUBURN TIGERS
Head Coach: Bryan Harsin 3 second season at Auburn; tenth season overall (3-5 SEC, 75-26 overall)
Offensive Coordinator: Eric Kiesaw (first season)
Defensive Coordinator: Jeff Schmedding (first season)
2021 Recap: 6-7 (3-5 SEC); lost to Houston in Birmingham Bowl
Auburn had the exact opposite season of Arkansas, with the meat of the sandwich being the best part. The Tigers started slow out of the gate, rallied in October with four straight SEC wins, and then didnt win a game after Halloween. The Tigers did end their two-decade losing streak at LSU and were the only non-New Years Six Bowl team to defeat Arkansas, but most of the season was a disaster. January brought a revolt against head coach Bryan Harsin, but cooler heads prevailed and Harsin was retained, albeit while still sitting on a hot seat after ending 2021 on a five-game losing streak. Three-year starting quarterback Bo Nix transferred to Oregon after suffering a season-ending ankle injury in November.

2022 Schedule
Sept. 3 3 MERCER (7 p.m. ET)
Sept. 10 3 SAN JOSE STATE (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU)
Sept. 17 3 PENN STATE (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)
Sept. 24 3 MISSOURI
Oct. 1 3 LSU
Oct. 8 3 at Georgia
Oct. 15 3 at Ole Miss
Oct. 29 3 ARKANSAS
Nov. 5 3 at Mississippi State
Nov. 12 3 TEXAS A&M
Nov. 19 3WESTERN KENTUCKY
Nov. 26 3 at Alabama

Under Center
Nixs transfer to Oregon came as a pretty big surprise after starting for three seasons, showing some improvement as a junior, and of course being the son of one of Auburns most successful quarterbacks. Taking over for Nix will be either junior T.J. Finley, who started the final three games of 2021, Texas A&M transfer Zach Calzada, or Oregon transfer Robby Ashford. Both Finley and Calzada have been inconsistent in their careers, making this competition perhaps the hardest to handicap of any in the SEC.

Calzada was limited during spring ball after (non-throwing) shoulder surgery, but hell be fully cleared for preseason camp. Ashford had an impressive spring game, but has yet to throw a pass in an actual game. Having a new offensive coordinator, Finleys incumbent advantage is minimal. With what should be an effective running game, my call is for Calzada to earn the starting role as the player with the highest floor of the three.

In The Trenches
In his seven years at Boise State, Harsin showed an ability to adjust his offenses to the players around him. If he had a top running back, as he did with Jay Ajayi and Alexander Mattison, he tended to lean on the running game. If he had more trust in his quarterback, things would be more wide open. The 2022 Tigers fit the former situation with a preseason All-SEC running back in Tank Bigsby, an emerging backup in sophomore Jarquez Hunter, and an experienced offensive line. As the quarterback battle gets settled, perhaps lasting through the first two games, the Tigers will lean heavily on their running game.

The defensive line front has yet to replace some its elite talent from late in last decade, but there is some promise here with a pretty good pair of edge rushers in Derrick Hall and Colby Wooden. The middle of the front seven is a concern, however, both at defensive tackle and linebacker. Owen Pappoe missed much of the 2021 season, but he returns to lead a new-look second level that must replace leading tacklers Zakoby McClain and Chandler Wooten. One positive here is that the more physical offenses on the schedule come in the second half of this season, allowing for more time to get this group sorted out.

On The Edge
Auburn was starting over a year ago at receiver, but 2022 doesnt look all that much better in terms of experience after leading receiver Kobe Hudson opted to join former head coach Gus Malzahn at UCF. Shedrick Jackson will anchor this unproven group, but the Tigers do have one of the better tight ends in the SEC in senior John Samuel Shanker. The passing game may at least be a bit more methodical this year than last, as Nixs backyard football ways are unlikely to continue with whichever quarterback emerges as the starter.

Losing veterans Roger McCreary and Smoke Monday is a major blow to the Auburn secondary, but considering how much quality football that duo had played, this group isnt in a bad spot. Theres not a superstar here, but theres also not an obvious weakness. Cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett and safety Zion Puckett are the most experienced players on the back end of the defense. The Tigers were pretty good at preventing long passing plays a year ago, and also were stout in the red zone. Thats the goal for this group once again.

Ranking The Units
1. Running Backs
2. Offensive Line
3. Defensive Line
4. Defensive Backs
5. Linebackers
6. Receivers
7. Quarterbacks

Schedule Analysis
Its rare to have an Auburn schedule not be one of the five most difficult in the country, and this year is no different. The Tigers open with five home games and play eight total games in Jordan-Hare Stadium, but three of the four road games are against New Years Six bowl teams. Auburn should start 2-0 before three straight home games against Penn State, Missouri and LSU. Anything less than 2-1 means its probably all over for Harsin. The week off comes after back-to-back road trips to Georgia and Ole Miss, but Arkansas is also off that week before coming to The Plains. Western Kentucky is a bit too frisky of an opponent for the late November get-right week between hosting Texas A&M and traveling to Alabama.

Season Prediction
When things look like theyre about to come unraveled at Auburn is when the Tigers surprise. Im certainly not predicting a stunning SEC West title like in 2013 and 2017, but I think Auburn can get to eight wins this year and finish in the middle of the pack in the division. Despite the coup this past offseason, Harsin is a good football coach. Its easy to forget Auburn was 6-2 last year with wins over Arkansas, LSU and Ole Miss before things fell apart.

It will be challenging to sweep the five home games to open the season, but I think Auburn can do just that. Beating Georgia will be too much to ask, but the Tigers own Ole Miss in the way Georgia has owned them, so Ill call for that streak to continue with a mild upset win in Oxford. A November revenge victory at Mississippi State will stamp a successful season, even with late-season losses to Texas A&M and Alabama putting a small stain on the final record. A fun bowl opponent will allow for the season to finish on a high note and bring some rare stability to a program that desperately needs some.

Record: 8-4 (4-4 SEC)
Bowl: Texas Bowl vs. Texas