Around here, most folks are very passionate about their favorite college football teams. Some cheer for Alabama, like me. Others root for Auburn instead, (I won’t hold it against them). People on both sides of the Iron Bowl rivalry have something in common. They both realize that there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the 2024 college football season.
In Auburn, there are two big issues that stand in the way of immediate success. The first is a problem everyone has to face now: tough schedules. In the non-conference, Auburn has it fairly easy, hosting Alabama A&M, California (now a member of the ACC), New Mexico, and Louisiana-Monroe. In SEC play, though, Auburn faces Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M at home and Georgia, Missouri, Kentucky, and Alabama on the road.
The other issue that could hinder short-term success is the quarterback position. Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze has said that he issticking with Payton Thorne as the starter for 2024. To put it bluntly, Thorne was not very good last year, throwing for just 1,755 yards and sixteen touchdowns, not to mention ten interceptions. Thorne’s teammates say that he’s playing much better now, though. Time will tell, and soon.
On the bright side, though, Auburn has Jarquez Hunter at running back. Hugh Freeze once described Hunter as “the greatest running back” he has ever coached. As we saw in the Iron Bowl last year, if the running game works, Auburn doesn’t need stellar quarterback play.
Usually, a head coach’s second season is better than his first. Freeze has had time to bring in his own players via recruiting and/or the transfer portal, which means that his Tigers should be improved, even if the overall win total doesn’t reflect it.
For fans of the Alabama Crimson Tide, there is a nagging question: Can the Alabama dynasty survive without Nick Saban? Rest assured; Alabama head coach Kalen Deboer is outstanding. His recruiting has been stellar since he arrived in Tuscaloosa, which was a main concern, since Deboer had never recruited in the SEC before. However, the new job will be tough on him, considering the pressure he’ll be under. Fortunately for Deboer, he’ll have more than enough talent to work with.
Jalen Milroe has one of the most unique skillsets among quarterbacks in America, sporting the ability to run effectively and deadly deep-ball accuracy. He has Jam Miller, Justice Haynes, and Richard Young—a trioof excellent young running backs—in the backfield with him. ‘Bama has some talent at wide receiver, too. Washington transfer Germie Bernard will line up alongside Kendrick Law, Kobe Prentice, and true freshman Ryan Williams.
On the other side of the ball, Dallas Turner, Kool-Aid McKinstry, Terrion Arnold, Chris Braswell, Justin Eboigbe, and Jaylen Key are in the NFL, while safety Caleb Downs is at Ohio State. The few returnees are fairly inexperienced, with the exception of safety Malachi Moore and linebacker Deontae Lawson. The Tide did reel in talented transfers on defense, though, such as defensive backs Keon Sabb from Michigan and Domani Jackson from Southern Cal, plus defensive end L.T. Overton from Texas A&M. If the Tide can’t get production from young talents such as Keanu Koht, Jeremiah Alexander, Jihaad Campbell, Jeheim Oatis, and former top recruit Keon Keeley, though, this could be a long season.
The schedule is tough as well. ‘Bama’s four non-conference games are against Western Kentucky, South Florida, and Mercer at home, and Wisconsin on the road. The Tide face eight conference opponents: Georgia, South Carolina, Missouri, and Auburn at home, and Vanderbilt, Tennessee, LSU, and Oklahoma on the road. With those road trips to Knoxville and Baton Rouge and that battle with Georgia in Tuscaloosa, Alabama probably won’t beat out Texas and Georgia for a spot in the SEC Championship Game, but a playoff berth is very possible, dare I say expected.
Regardless of how the 2024 season goes for Alabama and Auburn, whether a roaring success or an utter failure, everything will happen under intense scrutiny from the fans. That’s a small price for both institutions to pay, though, for such unbridled love and support from their faithful and loyal followers.
