Auburn football just wrapped up September with a solid 3-1 record, but hold up, because their October slate is an absolute brutal gauntlet. Every single one of their next four opponents shows up in this week’s US LBM Coaches Poll. Talk about diving headfirst into the deep end, right? This isn’t just a tough stretch, it’s a make-or-break month that will test everything the Tigers have got.
The Brutality Starts in Knoxville
First up, Auburn heads to Knoxville this weekend to face the No. 17 Tennessee Volunteers. The Vols are coming off their first loss of the season, a strong fight against No. 1 Texas in Neyland Stadium. That bumped them down four spots, but don’t let the drop fool you; they’re still a dangerous squad. After that, Auburn gets a bye week on October 10th, which they’ll absolutely need to recover before hitting the road again on October 17th to stare down the monstrous No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs. Good luck with that one, seriously.
Halloween Horror Show at Home and Away
The schedule doesn’t get any easier once they’re back home, with No. 11 LSU rolling into town on October 24th. Then, to round out the month, it’s a Halloween showdown in Oxford, Mississippi, against the No. 12 Ole Miss Rebels. Ole Miss just took a tumble in the poll after losing to the No. 8 Florida Gators, who are apparently the hottest team in the SEC right now. So, Auburn’s walking into a potential trap game against a team looking to bounce back. Yikes.
A Glimmer of Hope Amidst the Madness
Now, here’s the kicker, the one little silver lining in this insane October: Auburn is actually back in the “receiving votes” column of the US LBM Coaches Poll! They picked up 22 votes after beating Vanderbilt in a key SEC matchup in Week 4 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. That win had to feel good, and it’s gotta be a huge motivator heading into their first true road contest of the season against Tennessee. They’re going to need every ounce of that motivation, and then some, to navigate this absolute nightmare of a month.
This October is everything for Auburn. It’s either going to make them or break them, no in-between. They’ve got to bring their A-game every single snap, or this 3-1 start could feel like a distant memory real fast. Can they do it? We’re about to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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