GEORGIA AT AUBURN
Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Ala.
When: TBD, Nov. 16
TV; radio: TBD; News 95.5 and AM-750 WSB
Previous game: Missouri | Next game: Texas A&M
Auburn finished 7-5 last season and the offense ranked No. 78 in the country in yards per game (47th in points per game), and then its quarterback left early for the NFL, with no obvious replacement waiting in the wings.
That doesn’t trend well for a program whose coach has seemed to be on the hot seat since last fall, especially considering the Tigers’ schedule for the coming season. (More on that below.)
However, Auburn has enough talent to gain a No. 16 ranking in the preseason AP poll. That puts them sixth among SEC teams, fourth among those in the SEC West.
One big question looms over the Tigers’ preseason. Auburn’s camp ended Sunday, and as of Tuesday morning, coach Gus Malzahn hadn’t announced who will start at quarterback for the Tigers in the season opener Aug. 31 against Oregon. Redshirt freshman Joey Gatewood and freshman Bo Nix have competed for the job to replace Jarrett Stidham. Junior Malik Willis transferred to Liberty last month.
Malzahn’s reputation long has been about his high-scoring offenses. The success of this year’s team may depend on how well this year’s rookie QB performs.
Players to watch
» Whoever plays quarterback. Auburn's preseason camp ended Sunday, and as of Monday, coach Gus Malzahn hadn't announced who will start at quarterback for the Tigers in the season opener Aug. 31 against Oregon. Whoever wins the competition to replace Jarrett Stidham will be a rookie. Redshirt freshman Joey Gatewood and freshman Bo Nix have competed in camp, after junior Malik Willis transferred to Liberty last month. Nix is the son of former Auburn quarterback Patrick Nix.
» Defensive linemen. A strength of the team, the big names among this unit are Nick Coe, Derrick Brown and Marlon Davidson. Coe and Brown were known last season as disrupters. You wanted a tackle for a loss? Coe gave you 13.5 and Brown 10.5. You wanted a sack? Coe also lead the team (7), and Brown ranked second (4.5). In tackles, Brown led the linemen with 48. Davidson was right behind, with 46, and Coe recorded 27.
» JaTarvious Whitlow. As a redshirt freshman last season, Whitlow led the team in rushing yards with 787. After a solid start to his collegiate career, he could be ready for a breakout season. Auburn may need that from him to help ease the way for its rookie quarterback.
Before the Tigers face the Bulldogs
By this time, Auburn will have faced all its SEC West foes except Alabama, including trips to Texas A&M and LSU, a game at Florida and its season-opening game against Oregon at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium in Arlington, Texas. Auburn will be the third consecutive Georgia opponent with a bye week before it plays the Bulldogs — and the fifth in a stretch of six games.
The last time against Georgia
The Bulldogs won 27-10 last year at Sanford Stadium. Most of the damage came in the first half, when the Dogs built a 20-10 lead. For the game, Georgia rushed for 303 yards on 46 carries, led by 186 yards by D'Andre Swift, who finished the scoring with a 77-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
All-time, Georgia leads the series 59-56-8.
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