Ranking Auburn's three most challenging games on the 2024 schedule

The Auburn Tigers have a tough 2024 schedule.

The Auburn football program is in year two under Hugh Freeze, and he will look to improve from the 6-7 season a year ago. 

Coach Freeze brought in a recruiting class full of five and four-star talent that will get on the field early and added nine players in the transfer portal who could all play a role. 

These additions, plus some positive changes to the coaching staff, like bringing in defensive coordinator DJ Durkin and offensive coordinator Derrick Nix, have Auburn in a good spot ahead of the 2024 season. 

The SEC has changed ahead of the 2024 season, so Auburn will host the Oklahoma Sooners into Jordan-Hare Stadium, welcoming them to the SEC. 

Let's take a look at Auburn's three most challenging games on the 2024 schedule. 

#3 @Alabama November 30th

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This game would likely be higher on this list had Nick Saban not retired, but Alabama's legendary head coach is gone, and former Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer has taken over. DeBoer just lost his offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb to the Seattle Seahawks which will hurt the Crimson Tide as Grubb was a massive part of the Huskies offensive success a year ago. While Alabama has lost a lot of talent and gone through a bunch of changes, it's still the Iron Bowl on the road, making it a challenging game for Auburn to win. 

#2 @Missouri October 19th

Eric Starling/Auburn Daily

Missouri had a terrific year a season ago, going 11-2. Coach Eli Drinkwitz has the Tigers in a really good spot heading into next season. This season will be the year we find out if Missouri is here to stay or not. The Missouri fans will have a ton of anticipation for the 2024 season, which means they will make the atmosphere electric. Coach Drinkwitz had done an excellent job recruiting in high school and the portal. Winning this game on the road won't be an easy task for Freeze's Auburn team. 

#1 @Georgia October 5th

Eric Starling/Auburn Daily

The most challenging game on Auburn's 2024 schedule will be playing the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens. With Saban retired, Kirby Smart and Georgia are officially the top Dawgs in college football, which is a title Coach Freeze will chase. Georgia looks to have a great year with Carson Beck back at quarterback. It would take the game of the season for Auburn to win this game away from home. 

Auburn could lose all three of these games and still improve on their 6-7 record from a year ago, thanks to how the schedule works out.