College Football Rankings: Way-too-early Top 25 projections for 2020

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 13: Terrace Marshall Jr. #6 of the LSU Tigers celebrates his touchdown against Clemson Tigers in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Auburn Tigers. 842. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 9-4 in 2019. lost Outback Bowl 31-24 vs. Minnesota. 14. player

Auburn opened 2019 with a come-from-behind takedown of Pac-12 champion Oregon at AT&T Stadium in Texas. They closed the year with a narrow defeat against Big Ten West runner-up Minnesota in the Outback Bowl in Tampa to miss out on the chance at reaching 10 wins. Even with the loss, though, Gus Malzahn’s team enters 2020 with a wealth of hope of returning to contention in the SEC West.

The Tigers running game was held in check by Minnesota, as JaTarvious Whitlow finished with only 24 yards and a touchdown on nine carries to lead the team. Auburn ended the day with only 56 total rushing yards on 26 combined carries. Bo Nix had a so-so day in the final game of his freshman season, throwing for 176 yards and a score on 17-of-26 passing. Where Auburn fell apart was on defense, giving up nearly 500 yards of offense to the Golden Gophers.

Auburn loses a lot of veteran talent this offseason, making next year another season of growth. The September 12 neutral-site game against North Carolina in Atlanta will determine whether the Tigers continue moving up the Top 25 rankings or whether they fall back to spoiler status in the SEC next year.

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