SEC Football: Preseason power rankings for 2023 season

COLUMBIA, MO - OCTOBER 01: Jamon Dumas-Johnson #10 of the Georgia Bulldogs defends during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on October 1, 2022 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MO - OCTOBER 01: Jamon Dumas-Johnson #10 of the Georgia Bulldogs defends during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on October 1, 2022 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) /
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Auburn Tigers running back Jarquez Hunter (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /

11. Auburn Tigers

The first of two teams across the conference beginning a new era in 2023, Auburn sits at No. 11 in our preseason SEC football power rankings entering year one under new head coach Hugh Freeze.

Auburn is also in that group of teams coming off back-to-back losing seasons, as the Tigers would finish last year at 5-7 overall, as well as 2-6 in SEC play to miss a bowl game. After a 6-7 season the year prior, this would be the first time that Auburn missed a bowl game since 2012, with this fall now the first time the Tigers have entered a campaign coming off back-to-back losing seasons since 2000.

As for what Freeze inherits in year one, Auburn’s offense will be headlined by running back Jarquez Hunter, while others are also back including quarterback Robby Ashford, as well as wide receivers Ja’Varrius Johnson and Koy Moore. The Tigers defense also returns a few others as well, a group in which Cam Riley, Keionte Scott, D.J. James, Donovan Kaufman, and Nehemiah Pritchett are likely to play key roles alongside others.

Auburn has also brought in one of the conference’s top transfer portal classes, which is headlined by the likes of Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne, East Carolina offensive lineman Avery Jones, FIU tight end Rivaldo Fairweather, Jackson State wide receiver Shane Hooks, and more. In addition to that group, Auburn has a few others from their 2023 class that could have an impact such as Keldric Faulk and Kayin Lee on defense.

The Tigers will open the 2023 season at home in Week 1, as Auburn hosts UMass.