Where does Auburn land in this week's USA TODAY Sports SEC Power Poll?

As SEC football gets underway this weekend, the Auburn Tigers look to make a strong impression among its fanbase and college football experts with a great showing at home against Alabama A&M.

Auburn football is on a quest to win more than six games for the first time this decade and has the talent on its roster to make that dream turn into reality. However, many experts are not ready to give Auburn “SEC Championship contender” status this season until they have a few games under their belt, including Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News. Goodbread released his debut SEC Power Poll ahead of the 2024 season and has given Auburn the No. 12 slot.

His early assessment of the Tigers is spot on, as he declares that Auburn fans will “demand more explosiveness from Hugh Freeze’s offense this year.” Freeze has done wonders this offseason by nearly gutting last season’s wide receiver room and rebuilding the unit with solid transfers including former Georgia State star Robert Lewis and Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith. Freshmen Cam Coleman and Perry Thompson are expected to contribute heavily this season alongside the Tigers’ leading receiver from a year ago, Rivaldo Fairweather.

If the Tigers do not improve upon last season’s output, which ranked last among SEC teams at 162.23 yards per game, Auburn fans will become understandably frustrated. However, Freeze’s track record proves he will continue building Auburn into an offense powerhouse in 2024. Goodbread leaves the door open for Auburn to climb in the rankings in upcoming weeks if the Tigers can provide enough offensive firepower.

Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Ole Miss, and

make up the top five while Kentucky and Texas A&M are ahead of Auburn for a top-10 placement.

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