Phil Steele’s 2025 SEC Prediction Sends a Clear Message to Auburn: The Climb Isn’t Over Yet
As Auburn football enters its third season under head coach Hugh Freeze, expectations are cautiously rising on The Plains. After years of rebuilding and retooling, Tiger fans are hoping 2025 marks the true beginning of a turnaround—a return to relevance in the brutal gauntlet that is the Southeastern Conference. But if Phil Steele’s latest preseason SEC predictions are any indication, Auburn’s road to redemption will still require patience and persistence.
In Steele’s widely-respected preseason magazine, Auburn is projected to finish 10th in the SEC, tied with South Carolina. It’s a ranking that stings, especially after the Tigers landed yet another top-10 recruiting class and secured one of the strongest transfer portal hauls in the country. Despite the influx of talent and the growing belief in Freeze’s system, Steele sees the Tigers as still lingering in the conference’s lower half.
From Rock Bottom to Respectability
Last season, Auburn finished 2-6 in SEC play, ending the year in a disappointing 14th place. For a program with championship DNA, that kind of result is simply unacceptable. The Tigers haven’t posted a winning season since 2020, and the fanbase is hungry for more than just marginal improvement.
That’s what makes this year’s projection so crucial. While 10th place may feel underwhelming on the surface, it does mark clear progress compared to last season’s rock bottom. The climb is on—but it’s steep, and the competition at the top remains fierce.
Who’s Ahead—and Who’s Chasing
According to Steele’s forecast, Auburn still trails nine SEC programs: Tennessee, Ole Miss, Florida, Texas A&M, LSU, Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, and Texas. That’s a who’s who of college football royalty—and it underscores just how challenging it is to rise through the ranks in a reloaded, 16-team SEC.
The teams ranked below Auburn include Missouri, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, and Mississippi State, offering at least some reassurance that the Tigers are no longer scraping the bottom of the barrel.
But make no mistake: being 10th in the SEC is not the end goal. It’s simply a waypoint on the journey back to being a national power.
The Schedule: No Mercy in 2025
Auburn’s 2025 schedule is nothing short of brutal. The Tigers will host both Alabama and Georgia—two of college football’s most dominant programs—in games that could define Freeze’s third year. Their road slate isn’t any easier, featuring trips to Baylor, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M. That’s a murderer’s row of matchups that will test the maturity, depth, and resilience of this roster.
For Auburn to outperform Steele’s projections, they’ll need to pull off at least one or two major upsets—especially at home, where Jordan-Hare Stadium still stands as one of the most intimidating environments in the country.
Star Power Emerging
Despite the middling forecast, there are clear signs of life within the Auburn roster. Eight Tigers were selected to Phil Steele’s preseason All-SEC teams, a testament to the growing talent base Freeze and his staff have cultivated.
Leading the way is sophomore wide receiver Cam Coleman, who earned first-team All-SEC honors. Coleman has all the tools to become one of the most electrifying playmakers in the country, and his development could be a game-changer for an Auburn offense that struggled to find consistency last season.
Surrounding him are several promising contributors on both sides of the ball, suggesting that while the Tigers may still be young and unproven, they’re not lacking in upside.
The Bigger Picture: Patience and Progress
Phil Steele’s predictions may not be what Auburn fans wanted to hear, but they offer a dose of realism. Turning around a program in the modern SEC isn’t an overnight process. It requires elite recruiting, savvy use of the transfer portal, coaching consistency, and, most importantly, time.
Hugh Freeze has begun laying the foundation. Now, it’s about taking that next step—translating talent into wins and potential into production. A 10th-place projection isn’t flattering, but it’s a starting point. Auburn has the tools, the talent, and the support to climb much higher.
The question now is simple: Will the Tigers use this as fuel to shock the SEC in 2025?
Only time will tell—but the stage is set for Auburn to turn heads.
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