Assessing the possibilities for Auburn's 2024 SEC schedule

Southeastern Conference football is soon to enter a new dawn. Following a spring meeting session in which the SEC’s head football coaches and athletics directors reportedly agreed to a one-year eight-game conference slate, the SEC will announce 2024 conference opponents Wednesday. It’ll mark the first year since 1992 without the league’s current two-division format, which is being dissolved with the member additions of Oklahoma and Texas. Auburn will find out where it lands in this 16-member, single-division swirl in the span of hours, and whether or not it makes its first trip out west sooner than later. But before it does, here’s a rundown, from A to Z, of all 15 opponents that could be slated for the Tigers, and how they historically match up with them. Alabama Auburn football at Alabama Auburn’s Jarquez Hunter (27) carries in the first half. Auburn at Alabama on Saturday, Nov. 26 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Adam Sparks / Auburn’s all-time record against: 37-49-1 Past 10 matchups: 3-7 Last matchup: 49-27, Alabama (2022) Hugh Freeze’s all-time record against: 2-3 Recent Iron Bowl history hasn’t boded well for Auburn, with its second worst record against any SEC opponent in its past 10 contests. It’ll also be four years this fall since the Tigers have topped the Crimson Tide on the gridiron, last doing so in a 48-45 shootout in 2019. But Hugh Freeze’s hire happened, in part, because of his history against Nick Saban’s Alabama. Freeze went 2-3 against the Tide during his stint at Ole Miss in the mid-2010s, with back-to-back victories in 2013 and 2014. The biggest question, at this point, is what’s changed in the near-decade since Freeze last beat Alabama? The short answer is a lot. But what’s not changing is the Iron Bowl being played. So while some other regular Auburn opponents may be toss-ups for 2024, make no mistake that its schedule will likely be capped once again by the Iron Bowl. Arkansas Auburn football vs Arkansas Arkansas’s KJ Jefferson (1) throws a pass for a touchdown in the second half. Auburn vs Arkansas on Saturday, Oct. 29 in Auburn, Ala. Adam Sparks / Auburn’s all-time record against: 19-12-1 Past 10 matchups: 8-2 Last matchup: 41-27, Arkansas (2022) Hugh Freeze’s all-time record against: 3-3 The Arkansas matchup was a regular victory for the Tigers during the Gus Malzahn era, as the former Auburn coach with deep Natural State roots went 7-1 against the Razorbacks while on the Plains. Bryan Harsin’s final game against Arkansas wound up being his last as Auburn’s coach, as the Razorbacks torched the Tigers in Jordan-Hare Stadium. PHOTOS: Auburn football vs. Arkansas +106 +106 Auburn football vs Arkansas +106 +106 Auburn football vs Arkansas +106 +106 Auburn football vs Arkansas +106 +106 Auburn football vs Arkansas +106 +106 Auburn football vs Arkansas This is one opponent that feels like it could go either way on Auburn’s 2024 slate. While Freeze, like Malzahn, has past ties to the state, it’s not a historic rivalry in the ways of Alabama, Georgia, or even Florida. It wouldn’t be a shock to see the two square off two seasons from now, but they’ll get at least one more crack at each other as division rivals this season, when Auburn travels to Fayetteville on Nov. 11. Florida Auburn vs. Florida Auburn center Kaleb Kim (54) and the Auburn offensive line blocks for quarterback Bo Nix during the team's game against Florida on Oct. 5 in Gainesville, Fla. Jerry Ballas/For the O-A News Auburn’s all-time record against: 43-38-2 Past 10 matchups: 4-6 Last matchup: 24-13, Florida (2019) Hugh Freeze’s all-time record against: 0-1 A sorely missed long-time Auburn rival makes almost too much sense to put on the Tigers’ 2024 schedule. While the SEC moves to eight conference opponents, at least for one season, it also means Auburn will move to one permanent rival. Not only will that nix the certainty of all former SEC West members — Ole Miss, Arkansas, etc. — being on the schedule, but it also wipes playing Georgia in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry annually. Enter Florida, a game that Auburn played annually from the end of World War II until 2002. In the two decades since, these programs have only played twice, and if the team from Athens isn’t scheduled, a return to the Florida matchup, at least for a year, makes a lot of sense. Georgia Auburn at Georgia Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) carries for a 64-yard touchdown run in the second half. Auburn football vs Georgia on Saturday, Oct. 8 in Athens, Ga. Adam Sparks / Auburn’s all-time record against: 56-63-8 Past 10 matchups: 1-9 Last matchup: 42-10, Georgia (2022) Hugh Freeze’s all-time record against: 1-1 While Auburn’s luck against Alabama of late has been some of its worst in SEC play, its actual worst has come against the Bulldogs. Auburn’s last win against Georgia came in 2017, which is the third-longest ago of every team on this list, and that’s despite the fact that the programs square off annually. For the sake of competitive balance, it wouldn’t be a shock to not see Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs on the schedule in 2024. It’s a shame for the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, which hasn’t taken a year off since 1943, but for at least one more time, it’ll be played in 2023 when Georgia travels to Auburn on Sept. 30. Kentucky Auburn vs. Kentucky football Auburn's Ze'Vian Capers (80) is tackled by a Kentucky defender after making a catch during the Auburn vs. Kentucky football game at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. Sara Palczewski/ Auburn’s all-time record against: 27-6-1 Past 10 matchups: 9-1 Last matchup: 29-13, Auburn (2020) Hugh Freeze’s all-time record against: N/A Another toss-up for Auburn’s 2024 schedule is Kentucky. A former cross-division matchup, these programs have only faced off six times since 2000. Their past 10 matchups actually span more than three decades, being played between 1988 and 2020. There’s another argument to be made that, for competitive balance, this would be a fine addition for Auburn, but Kentucky coach Mark Stoops has managed four years of above-.500 success in the past five seasons, including two years of 10 wins. LSU Auburn vs LSU Auburn's Colby Wooden (25) tackles LSU's Jayden Daniels (5) in the first half. Auburn vs LSU on Saturday, Oct. 1 in Auburn, Ala. Adam Sparks / Auburn’s all-time record against: 24-32-1 Past 10 matchups: 4-6 Last matchup: 21-17, LSU (2022) Hugh Freeze’s all-time record against: 2-3 While the Bayou Bengals are a long-standing division rival, this matchup likely sits just behind Auburn’s premier rivalries in terms of importance. It’s no Iron Bowl, or Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, but the face-off has led to some electric battles of late, including Auburn’s 2021 comeback win in Death Valley and a narrow defeat at the hands of Joe Burrow and LSU’s eventual title-winning squad in 2019. Mississippi State FTBL: FOOTBALL Interim head coach Carnell Williams with the team during the game Saturday between Auburn and Mississippi State at Davis Wade Stadium. Todd Van Emst, AU Athletics Auburn’s all-time record against: 65-29-2 Past 10 matchups: 5-5 Last matchup: 39-33 OT, Mississippi State (2022) Hugh Freeze’s all-time record against: 3-2 The latest installment of this matchup was one of the more electric in recent memory — and that’s despite it being an Auburn loss. A year removed from a collapse and eventual 43-34 loss to the Bulldogs, which subsequently began the collapse of Harsin’s time at Auburn, the Tigers traveled to Starkville in November for their first game under interim head coach Carnell “Cadillac” Williams. They almost pulled off a comeback of their own, taking Mississippi State to overtime in the eventual defeat. Missouri Auburn vs Missouri Auburn's Robby Ashford (9) carries in the first half. Auburn vs Missouri on Saturday, Sept. 24 in Auburn, Ala. Adam Sparks / Auburn’s all-time record against: 3-1 Past 10 matchups: N/A Last matchup: 17-14 OT, Auburn (2022) Hugh Freeze’s all-time record against: 0-1 There’s been just three contests between these sets of Tigers since the program from the Show Me State joined the SEC in 2013, with the first at Jordan-Hare Stadium coming last season. It’s a cross-division contest that, clearly, hasn’t been given much priority. Still, it falls into the category of a competitive balance matchup that might lighten Auburn’s load in 2024. Oklahoma Sugar Bowl game Auburn defensive end Carl Lawson (55) and defensive tackle Montravius Adam (1) attempt to tackle Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon (25) in the Sugar Bowl on Monday, Jan. 1, 2017 in New Orleans, LA. Todd Van Emst, Auburn’s all-time record against: 0-2 Past 10 matchups: N/A Last matchup: 35-19, Oklahoma (2017) Hugh Freeze’s all-time record against: N/A The first of Auburn’s two new conference foes on this list is also the only current or eventual SEC member that the Tigers haven’t beaten. In 1972, a Ralph “Shug” Jordan-led Auburn team lost to the Sooners in the Sugar Bowl. While Auburn lost 40-22, its offense was led by legendary Tiger quarterback Pat Sullivan, who won the Heisman Trophy that season. He threw for 250 in the game. Auburn’s other Oklahoma loss also came in the Sugar Bowl, but 45 years later. Auburn quarterback Sean White suffered a broken forearm on the first drive of the eventual 35-19 defeat, and Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield threw for 296 yards and tossed two touchdowns. Ole Miss Auburn Mississippi Football Rogelio V. Solis Auburn’s all-time record against: 35-12 Past 10 matchups: 8-2 Last matchup: 48-34, Ole Miss (2022) Hugh Freeze’s all-time record against: 0-1 Another soon-to-be former division foe that Auburn’s handled comfortably of late, with just five losses against the Rebels since 2000. While it’s uncertain how big of a priority this matchup is for the Tigers, there’s some theatrics to it. It would pit Hugh Freeze against his former employer and would also see Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin square off with the school he was rumored to be leaving for this past offseason. South Carolina Football: University of South Carolina (copy) Auburn quarterback TJ Finley (1) throws downfield during the Tigers' game against South Carolina on Saturday in Columbia, S.C. TODD VAN EMST/AU ATHLETICS Auburn’s all-time record against: 10-3-1 Past 10 matchups: 8-2 Last matchup: 21-17, South Carolina (2021) Hugh Freeze’s all-time record against: N/A Since the Gamecocks joined the SEC in 1990, this game has been played just 10 times. South Carolina has won the past two games, but this matchup has Auburn’s second-best winning percentage against any conference opponent. Tennessee AU Football 8-8 Auburn wide receiver Anthony Schwartz is taken down by the Tennessee defense during the teams' last meeting Oct. 13, 2018 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. O-A News File Photo Auburn’s all-time record against: 29-22-3 Past 10 matchups: 7-3 Last matchup: 30-17, Auburn (2020) Hugh Freeze’s all-time record against: 1-0 The Tigers and Volunteers squared off aplenty from the 1950s through the 1990s, but since the league split into two divisions, this is another matchup that Auburn hasn’t played much. In eight games since the turn of the century, the Tigers are 7-1 against Tennessee. Both programs have turned new pages in recent years, so this could be an exciting matchup between offensive-minded coaches in Freeze and Tennessee coach Josh Heupel, who will presumably be at the helm of the programs in 2024. Texas Auburn’s all-time record against: 3-5 Past 10 matchups: N/A Last matchup: 14-10, Auburn (1991) Hugh Freeze’s all-time record against: 1-1 It’s been a long (long) time since Auburn has faced the Longhorns — a little more than three decades, to be precise. If anything, that makes a more compelling case for them to wind up on the Tigers’ 2024 slate than Oklahoma, even if the programs have faced off more than the Tigers and Sooner have all-time. Texas A&M Auburn football vs Texas A&M Auburn’s Derick Hall celebrates in the student section after the game against Texas A&M. Adam Sparks, Auburn’s all-time record against: 6-7 Past 10 matchups: 6-4 Last matchup: 13-10, Auburn (2022) Hugh Freeze’s all-time record against: 3-2 While this hasn’t been a division rivalry that’s chock full of sparks, the face-off between two 3-7 teams late last season was arguably Auburn’s most electric game of the year. It gave Williams his only win in SEC play as interim coach. PHOTOS: Auburn defeats Texas A&M +149 +149 Auburn football vs Texas A&M +149 +149 Auburn football vs Texas A&M +149 +149 Auburn football vs Texas A&M +149 +149 Auburn football vs Texas A&M +149 +149 Auburn football vs Texas A&M Vanderbilt Vandy at Auburn Auburn running back Kamryn Pettway runs against Vanderbilt on Nov. 5. Todd Van Emst/ Auburn’s all-time record against: 21-21-1 Past 10 matchups: 8-2 Last matchup: 23-16, Auburn (2016) Hugh Freeze’s all-time record against: 3-2 This contest is the quintessential argument for balancing Auburn’s 2024 schedule, especially if it continues to be laden with Alabamas and Georgias. Vanderbilt has frequently been one the SEC’s bottom-dweller and while coach Clark Lea has the program on the upswing, it hasn’t played in a bowl game since 2018. After playing frequently in the early 2000s, the Tigers and Commodores have only played three times since 2010. What’s going against this game being slated for 2024 is that it’ll be played for the first time in seven years this fall, with Auburn traveling to Nashville on Nov. 4.