As we approach the most anticipated part of the year for Auburn athletics, the college football season, there is growing excitement around the university for what the 2025 Auburn football team could look like. As a sportswriter here at Auburn, the No. 1 question I get without fail in anticipation of football season is, “What can we expect from the football team this year?”
The Tigers are one of the hardest teams in college football to predict this season. In this article, I will seek to give the best answer possible to that common question by taking a deep dive into the outlook for the 2025 Auburn football team. I cannot predict the future or exactly what will happen this season, but I can give an educated answer to many of the questions surrounding the team.
The No. 1 question mark for the team, much like last year, is the offense. The unit should improve at almost every position this season with the return of key players and the additions made through the transfer portal and recruiting. The most crucial piece in Auburn’s push for success is the new quarterback room, which features Jackson Arnold, Deuce Knight, and Ashton Daniels.
Arnold will go into the season as the starter with support behind him from the talented freshman Knight, and former Stanford quarterback Daniels. He will have even more support coming from Auburn’s historically strong receiver room featuring returners like Cam Coleman, Malcolm Simmons, and newcomers like Georgia Tech standout Eric Singleton Jr and Wake Forest transfer Horatio Fields. One of the Tigers’ sneaky strengths this year could be the offensive line, which is expected to take a big step forward with players such as Connor Lew and Xavier Chaplin.
The question remains, though: “What will Jackson Arnold do with the Auburn offense?” For me, I think the answer is simple: I believe he will do enough. I do not expect a Heisman season or anything extraordinary, but I think he can do enough to get Auburn trending in the right direction in year three under head coach Hugh Freeze.
On the other side of the ball, the defense has fewer questions about its reliability, and I think that is for good reason. The defense returned a ridiculous amount of talent and starters, with its strengths lying in the defensive line and the defensive back room. The linebacker room will have the least amount of returning experience, but I think young guys like Demarcus Riddick, Bryce Deas and Elijah Melendez will step up and have an unexpected impact.
After looking at both sides of the ball, the question of where Auburn will be at the end of the year still remains. I believe Auburn will win eight games, achieve a record of 8-4 and turn the trend of the program back in a positive direction. The combination of talent, along with a generally favorable SEC schedule, will give the Tigers ample opportunity to prove themselves this season, and at times I think they will.
The most important game for the Tigers right now is their matchup versus Baylor on Friday night, Aug. 29, at 7:00 p.m. CT, where we will get to see what the 2025 Auburn Tigers really look like on the field.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
Reid is a sophomore majoring in accounting. He joined the Plainsman in the fall of 2024.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @ReidFarris2
