5 darkhorse contenders for the 2024-25 College Football Playoff
Auburn Tigers
Auburn hasn鈥檛 had more than six wins in a season since 2019 but the Tigers are in position to surpass that in their second year under Hugh Freeze. Auburn started the 2023 season well but ran into a brutal conference schedule that saw it lose to Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss and Alabama. An SEC schedule will never be easy, but it is a little bit more manageable for the Tigers early on this year as they will get home games against Arkansas and Oklahoma to potentially build some confidence before a road gauntlet against Georgia, Missouri and Kentucky.
The Tigers will need to improve offensively to have any chance at the playoff while returning veteran signal caller Payton Thorne and talented halfback Jarquez Hunter. Thorne鈥檚 production should improve with a revamped receiver room featuring transfers Robert Lewis and KeAndre Lambert-Smith in addition to skilled freshman Cam Coleman. Meanwhile, former Texas A&M coordinator DJ Durkin will take over a defense that has a lot of potential with several stars at key positions. If Auburn can win at least one midseason road game and perhaps its season finale against Alabama, the Tigers will be in prime position to grab a playoff spot.
