SEC Football: Ranking the five best programs over the next 10 years

Head coach Gus Malzahn picked things back up for Auburn after a rough going in 2015. Even though the Tigers only finished 8-5 in 2016, they made an appearance in the Sugar Bowl. A lot rests in the hands of Baylor transfer Jarrett Stidham to get Auburn back to the top of the SEC.

The SEC West will always be a tough division to consistently succeed in because of teams like LSU, Alabama, and Texas A&M. Even the Arkansas Razorbacks, Ole Miss Rebels, and Mississippi State Bulldogs have put together some solid runs in recent years.

Auburn has been a consistent top 15 ranked team in most preseason polls for 2017. They have the potential to make a solid bid for an SEC Championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff. The defensive talent has always been there, yet the offense has to come through as well. Stidham has a running back in Kamryn Pettway that not only has NFL potential but is also among the best in the country.

Malzahn competes with the best of the best in the SEC in terms of recruiting each year. The talent will continue to pour into Auburn as the years go by. Making the most of that talent is the biggest challenge at hand for the Tigers.