Ranking the five most important games on Auburn's 2023 schedule

The 2023 Auburn football schedule is filled with important games.

Author:
Zac Blackerby
Publish date:
Jun 2, 2023 10:22 AM EDT

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Hugh Freeze will have several opportunities to make a statement this season as the new head coach at Auburn.

His first year features some tough games on the road early in the season as well as several toss-up games at home that the Tigers need to win in order to have a successful 2023 campaign.

This list will rank the five most important games on the 2023 schedule. This is different than the five "biggest" games in 2023. Let's tackle the question of which five games are most important to making the 2023 season for the Auburn Tigers.

5. Arkansas

Oct 23, 2021; Little Rock, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback KJ Jefferson (1) looks to pass during the first quarter against the Arkansas Pine Bluff Golden Lions at War Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports — Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

For the 10th game of Auburn's schedule, the Tigers will travel to Fayetteville to battle Arkansas on November 11. A road game SEC win in November would be a huge get for Freeze in his first year against an Arkansas team that appears to be gettable this season on the road.

In a year where Auburn is listed as winning 6.5 games in Vegas, this is a road win that the Tigers need to grab.

4. Mississippi State

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - NOVEMBER 06: Will Rogers #2 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs drops back to pass in the second half of a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on November 06, 2021 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Bulldogs 31-28. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) — Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Auburn hosts Mississippi State on October 28 as the eighth game on the schedule. This is one of those toss-up games that Auburn needs to win at home.

It was two seasons ago when Auburn blew the 28-3 lead against State in Jordan Hare Stadium. Freeze and the Tigers will look to have a better result when the Bulldogs come to town this time around.

This is a game Auburn should win.

3. Alabama

Oct 15, 2022; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban reacts during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports — Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

This game would obviously be higher in a list ranking the "biggest" games. Of course, if Auburn were able to win the Iron Bowl in Hugh Freeze's first year, it would make for a successful season but Auburn can have a successful season in 2023 without beating the Tide.

It's worth noting how wild Iron Bowls have been with first-year Auburn head coaches have been.

2. Ole Miss

Mississippi head coach Lane Kiffin is shown in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia Tech Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) — AP Photo/John Bazemore

This is one of those toss-up games that Auburn needs to win to have a successful season, but with much-added drama thanks to the Lane Kiffin to Auburn saga from this offseason before the Tigers made Freeze's hiring official.

Ole Miss is a team that many are expecting to be worse than a season ago. Freeze's former school will be a game that will be important to him to win at his new home in Jordan-Hare Stadium. This will be a fun game to attend.

1. Texas A&M

Oct 22, 2022; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher directs his team against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports — Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

Right now, I believe Auburn's road trip to College Station is the most important game on the schedule. This will be Freeze's first SEC game since being back in the conference and the timing of the game could be pivotal.

It's Auburn's fourth game of the season and assuming things go the way they should in Cal two weeks earlier, Auburn could have two solid road wins, a 4-0 record, and a chance to be ranked when they host Georgia for the SEC home opener.

With TAMU expecting a lot out of Jimbo Fisher this season, it would also have the chance to throw off an SEC foe's season early. Auburn fans will take that.