As many anticipated, expectations are not high for Auburn football in Bryan Harsin’s second season.
The Tigers were voted to finish last in the SEC West by members of the media who attended SEC Media Days.
Despite the skepticism about their ability to win games, six Tigers were named to the preseason All-SEC teams. Running back Tank Bigsby and edge rusher Derick Hall made the first-team. While defensive tackle Colby Wooden, punter Oscar Chapman, and kicker Anders Carlson each made the second-team and linebacker Owen Pappoe made the third-team.
The Tigers are coming off of a 6-7 season in Harsin’s first season where they dropped their final five games after starting the year off 6-2. The Tigers had chances to win most of those games but were unable to do so.
Things only got worse in the offseason, the Tigers were hit hard by players departing via the trasfer portal (to be expected with a new head coach) and their was an attempted coup of Harsin that caused doubt if he would even get to coach a second season.
Harsin spoke at SEC Media days about the inquiry.
“There was an inquiry. It was uncomfortable. It was unfounded. It presented an opportunity for people to personally attack me, my family, and also our program. And it didn’t work.”
Auburn and Harsin will open the season against Mercer on Sep. 3 in Jordan-Hare Stadium. It it the first of five straight home games to open the season and a great chance for the Tigers to start the season strong.
Here is how the media expected the SEC to finish and a look at their all-conference teams.
SEC West
1. Alabama (177)
2. Texas A&M (3)
3. Arkansas (1)
4. Ole Miss
5. LSU
6. Mississippi State
7. Auburn
SEC East
1. Georgia (172)
2. Kentucky (4)
3. Tennessee (1)
4. Florida
5. South Carolina (3)
6. Missouri
7. Vanderbilt
SEC Champion
1. Alabama (158)
2. Georgia (18)
3. South Carolina (3)
4. Vanderbilt (1)
5. Texas A&M (1)
First Team All-SEC
QB: Bryce Young, Alabama
RB: Tank Bigsby, Auburn
RB: Jahmyr Gibbs: Alabama
WR: Kayshon Boutte, LSU
WR: Jermaine Burton, Alabama
TE: Brock Bowers, Georiga
OL: Emil Ekiyor Jr., Alabama
OL: Warren McClendon, Georgia
OL: O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida
OL: Nick Broecker, Ole Miss
C: Rickey Stormberg, Arkansas
DL: Jalen Carter, Georgia
DL: BJ Ojulari, LSU
DL: Derick Hall, Auburn
DL: Byron Young, Tennessee
LB: Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
LB: Nolan Smith, Georgia
LB: Henry To’oTo’o, Alabama
DB: Jordan Battle, Alabama
DB: Kelee Ringo, Georgia
DB: Eli Ricks, Alabama
DB: Jalen Catalon, Arkansas
Second Team All-SEC
QB:…