Auburn football: How can Bryan Harsin save his job in Year 2 with the Tigers?
By John Scimeca
2022 Schedule and Predictions
Auburn football will begin the 2022 season with five straight home games, including a return visit from Penn State before SEC play begins with home dates against Missouri and LSU.
The brutal stretch begins on Oct. 8 with back-to-back road trips at Georgia and Ole Miss before returning home to face 2021’s surprise darling of the SEC, Sam Pittman, and the Arkansas Razorbacks.
The Tigers will get their usual share of the SEC November cupcake platter (Western Kentucky) before concluding the regular season with an Iron Bowl visit to Tuscaloosa to face Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide.
Win-loss predictions
Week 1: vs. Mercer (W) — The FCS Bears don’t shy away from playing the best, having lost 48-14 last season to Alabama.
Week 2: vs. San José State (W) — After winning the 2020 Mountain West title, the Spartans struggled offensively and ended last year with a 5-7 record.
Week 3: vs. Penn State (L) — The Tigers were competitive in this early-season loss last year in Happy Valley. Penn State should be improved after a disappointing 7-6 finish in 2021.
Week 4: vs. Missouri (W) — Missouri has struggled in recent years, and coach Eli Drinkwitz is feeling the heat in Columbia, Mo. Auburn should be favored in this one.
Week 5: vs. LSU (W) — The Bayou Bengals own a 10-5 series advantage against the Tigers in the past decade and a half. Last year’s road triumph at Tiger Stadium was huge for Auburn.
Week 6: at Georgia (L) — There’s no shame in losing to the defending national champion, as long as the Tigers can keep this one respectable in the teams’ 127th meeting.
Week 7: at Ole Miss (L) — Despite losing quarterback Matt Corral, Lane Kiffin’s Rebels still figure to spread out opposing defenses with USC transfer Jaxson Dart under center.
Week 8: Bye
Week 9: vs. Arkansas (W) — The Tigers have defeated the Razorbacks six years in a row, including last season’s 38-23 defeat of the Hogs.
Week 10: at Mississippi State (L) — Auburn’s defense will hope to avoid a repeat of last year’s shredding by MSU through the air in its ugly, choked away 43-34 loss.
Week 11: vs. Texas A&M (L) — The Tigers never truly threatened the Aggies in last year’s 20-3 loss. Some have Texas A&M pegged as a Top 5 team in the 2022 preseason polls.
Week 12: vs. Western Kentucky (W) — The Hilltoppers and former QB Bailey Zappe (the nation’s leading passer with 5,967 passing yards) finished 2021 with a 9-5 record after dropping the Conference USA title game to UTSA.
Week 13: at Alabama (L) — Last year’s double-overtime loss to Alabama still stings. Don’t mention this to Auburn fans now, but remember when Gus Malzahn beat Nick Saban three times?
Gasparilla Bowl vs. Virginia (W) — Tigers fans can cheer on their team to a winning record for the 2022 season in Tampa, Fla. on Dec. 23 against the ACC’s Cavaliers before making it home for Christmas.
Overall predicted record: 7-6 (3-5 SEC)
The positive vibes that come from a winning season, despite another sub-.500 mark in conference play, will earn Harsin from university brass enough confidence to let his solid recruiting efforts pay off in 2023.