The Auburn Tigers begin their 2024 season this Saturday when they host the Alabama A&M Bulldogs at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game is at 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff on ESPN+. After going 6-7 in the first season under Hugh Freeze there are questions around this team. The Tigers will look different on offense after an overhaul of the wide receiver room that needed more talent. Defensively, Freeze added more talent on the defensive line, but the secondary comes in lacking experience. Auburn does have the potential to be a nine-win team, but everything starts on Saturday. Here is our Auburn versus Alabama A&M preview:
Auburn Versus Alabama A&M Preview
Who are the Alabama A&M Bulldogs?
The Alabama A&M Bulldogs are out of Huntsville, Alabama, and play in the SWAC conference. Their head coach is Connell Maynor. After a successful career in the Arena Football League, he has found success as a head coach. In six years with the Bulldogs, he is 34-26 and is 99-57 overall. In 2023 the team went 5-6 and finished fourth in the eastern division.
They return quarterback Xavier Lankford who was one of two quarterbacks to play last season. He completed 56% of his passes for 904 yards and eight touchdowns. The top two leading rushers also return with Donovan Eaglin and Ryan Morrow. The duo combined 1,201 yards and 13 touchdowns. On defense, the Bulldogs return defensive back Emari Pait who led the team with four interceptions. Last season the offense averaged 29.6 points per game and gave up 27.4.
Keys for the Auburn Offense
A lot of attention will be paid to the Tiger’s offense on Saturday. A key factor for success in 2024 will be quarterback Payton Thorne. He returns this season by far as the most experienced quarterback on the roster. If he plays well this season, the Tigers could win nine or maybe ten games. If he plays badly, the Tigers could be looking at another six- or seven-win season.
Auburn had one of the worst receiving units in the Southeastern Conference but should be near the top this season due to the potential of the talent. The only wide receivers returning from 2023 are Camden Brown and Caleb Burton. New to the group are transfers KeAndre Lambert-Smith (Penn State), Robert Lewis (Georgia State), and Sam Jackson V (Cal). Also, they bring in one of the best freshman classes in the country featuring five-star recruits Cam Coleman and Perry Thompson. Everyone in Auburn is excited to see what Coleman will do on Saturday.
Thorne will be joined in the backfield by running back Jarquez Hunter. The senior running back is one of the best at the position in the SEC. Against Alabama A&M it will be key to protect Thorne well so he can make connections with the new receivers. A fast start will also be important so Auburn will be able to get the other quarterbacks some much-needed playing time.
Keys for the Auburn Defense
While the offense will get a lot of attention and conversation, the defense playing well will be equally important. The unit should be well coached with new defensive coordinator DJ Durkin plus Charles Kelly and Wesley McGriff on staff. The secondary is much more inexperienced than they were last season. Keionte Scott is the only returning starter and he is changing positions. The unit will need to do a good job at not allowing any big plays to Alabama A&M. That will limit any ideas the Bulldogs will have of an upset. Cornerback Kayin Lee and safety Jerrin Thompson are talented players now stepping into new roles.
Taking away the running backs Eaglin and Morrow will be a good challenge for the defensive front and the linebackers. Transfers Trill Carter (Texas) and Gage Keys (Kansas) should have a big impact stuffing that part of the Bulldogs offense. On the edge, Keldric Faulk and Jalen McLeod should be able to get some sacks on Lankford. Eugene Asante was constantly around the ball in 2023, and Saturday will be a great time to pick up where he left off.
Auburn Versus Alabama A&M Prediction
In the previous matchups between these two teams the Tigers dominated, and this time should not be much different. In 2012 the Tigers won 51-7 and in 2016 55-0. Auburn should be able to start fast and get out to a big halftime lead and allow the backups to get important playing time in the second half. The Auburn Tigers win this one 48-10.
