Auburn Football: Will Gus Malzahn avoid hot seat with bounce-back?

Again on the hot seat, how will Gus Malzahn’s Auburn football team navigate a difficult 2019 schedule? An average finish may spell the end of an era.

It’s no secret that there is frustration and unpredictability on the plains. Gus Malzahn’s tenure has never gone too long without those two things. He’s won, and at times won big, but there has also been disappointment. His 2-4 record in bowls has been a big part of his problems, as most seasons have ended with a bitter taste in the mouth of Auburn fans.

That wasn’t the case last year, however. A dominant win over Purdue, in which Malzahn took back play-calling duties, was a glimpse into what the Auburn offense could be. However, despite finally finding a rhythm with Jarret Stidham in that Music City Bowl, 2019 will begin with a brand new passer.

The Tiger offense has many questions, but the defense should be set for another strong season. Multiple players decided to delay the NFL and play one more season on the plains. There’s also an infusion of young talent, resulting from another solid recruiting effort from Malzahn.

Auburn will face a daunting schedule, so it isn’t the greatest moment to be rolling out a freshman quarterback. However, the rest of the team appears solid, and Malzahn has retaken play-calling duties, for better or worse. As always, this is an unpredictable season on the plains.