🏈 Auburn Tigers — 2025 Season Preview

📍 Conference: SEC🏟️ Home Field: Jordan-Hare Stadium👔 Head Coach: Hugh Freeze

📝 Preseason Overview

Auburn enters the 2025 season desperate to flip the turnover script. From 2018–2021, the Tigers were +24 in turnover margin, but in 2024 they plummeted to -9, costing them close games and momentum. Head coach Hugh Freeze is banking on quarterback Jackson Arnold and a strong offensive line overhaul to bring stability, while a deep defensive rotation is expected to anchor this year’s campaign.

The Tigers’ season will be defined by execution: protect the football, close out games, and survive an early gauntlet that features Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Georgia.

🔥 Top Players to Watch

Rank	Player	Pos	Year	Notes
1.	Keldrick Faulk	DE	Jr.	Explosive edge rusher, NFL talent
2.	Xavier Chaplin	OT	Jr.	6’7” transfer from Virginia Tech, blindside anchor
3.	Kaleb Harris	S	Soph.	Ball-hawking safety with elite instincts
3.	Cam Coleman	WR	Soph.	Breakout WR and highlight playmaker
4.	Jackson Arnold	QB	Jr.	Former Oklahoma star, expected program QB
5.	Mason Murphy	OT	Sr.	Veteran O-line leader
6.	Eric Singleton Jr.	WR	Jr.	Speed threat, strong WR2
7.	Demarcus Riddick	LB	Soph.	Athletic defensive leader
8.	Connor Lew	C	Jr.	Key piece in O-line rebuild
9.	Jeremiah Wright	OG	Sr.	Brings size, SEC-level toughness

🔁 Transfer Portal Recap

• Top Transfer In: Xavier Chaplin (OT) — massive upgrade at LT, likely best new player overall.

• Top Transfer Out: Bradyn Joiner (OG) — talented sophomore, now a key piece at Purdue.

📆 Key Game to Watch

@ Oklahoma (Sept. 20): Arnold returns to his old team in a massive SEC opener. Win here, and Auburn could enter October as a dark horse contender. Lose, and they face a brutal uphill battle with Texas A&M, Georgia, and Missouri looming.

📈 Strengths & Challenges

Strengths:

• Improved offensive line depth through transfers and development.

• Defensive front led by Faulk gives Auburn a real pass-rush edge.

• Explosive WR corps with Coleman and Singleton Jr.

Challenges:

• Turnover margin was -9 last year; must drastically improve.

• Inconsistent QB play historically — Arnold must live up to his hype.

• SEC West schedule offers no margin for error.

📊 2024 Fun Stats

• 2nd Quarter Scoring: Auburn 88, Opponents 41

• 4th Quarter Scoring: Opponents 89, Auburn 65

• Turnovers: Auburn 22, Opponents 13

🔮 Season Outlook

Auburn has bowl potential and spoiler power in the SEC, but the team’s success rests on Arnold’s development and the rebuilt O-line’s performance. Freeze has quietly built depth, and if Auburn flips its turnover margin, they could push for 8+ wins in 2025.