Auburn football schedule won’t do the Tigers, Bryan Harsin any favors

Auburn football won’t have an easy time of it in 2022 with the toughest schedule in the country according to the ESPN Football Power Index.

Bryan Harsin went through a rocky offseason with staff changes and roster drama. His job security depends on quieting all the noise with a fruitful 2022 season.

Unfortunately for the head coach, it’ll be easier said than done for the Tigers to post an acceptable record considering their schedule.

ESPN’s Football Power Index lists Auburn’s strength of schedule No. 1 in the country. That means no one will face a more difficult slate than Harsin’s team.

The Auburn football schedule is the toughest in the country

• Sept. 3 vs. Mercer (N/A)
• Sept. 10 vs. San Jose State (109)
• Sept. 17 vs. Penn State (12)
• Sept. 24 vs. Missouri (55)
• Oct. 1 vs. LSU (11)
• Oct. 8 at Georgia (3)
• Oct. 15 at Ole Miss (17)
• Oct. 22 BYE
• Oct. 29 vs. Arkansas (29)
• Nov. 5 at Mississippi State (24)
• Nov. 12 vs. Texas A&M (14)
• Nov. 19 vs. WKU (65)
• Nov. 26 at Alabama (1)

The Tigers only have four road games this year but they could not be more difficult. They get the No. 1 and No. 3 teams in FPI, Alabama and Georgia, plus No. 17 Ole is and No. 24 Mississippi State.

On the plus side, Auburn ranks No. 10 in FPI for 2022, so on paper, they are ahead of all but two of their opponents.

Then again, the Tigers also ranked No. 10 after Week 1 of the 2022 season. That didn’t stop them from losing to Penn State, Georgia, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Alabama and Houston.

Bryan Harsin is coming off a 6-7 season. No one would blame him for losing to the likes of Georgia or Alabama on the road but he has to make it through this season without letting too many of those other games get away from him.

Circle Mercer, San Jose State, Mizzou, Arkansas, MSU and WKU as must-wins. That’s the bare minimum to match last year’s six-win total. Harsin needs to show more improvement than that, which means getting after Penn State, LSU, Ole Miss and Texas A&M. The head coach beat the Tigers and Rebels last year, for what it’s worth.

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