2007 record: 9-4, 5-3 (2nd in SEC West)
2007 bowl: Beat Clemson 23-20 in Chick-fil-A
2007 final AP/coaches' ranking: 15/14
Coach: Tommy Tuberville (80-33, 10 years; 105-53 overall, 13 years)
Offensive coordinator: Tony Franklin (1st year)
Defensive coordinator: Paul Rhoads (1st year)
Returning offensive starters: 9
Returning defensive starters: 7
Location: Auburn, Ala.
Stadium: Jordan-Hare Stadium (grass, 87,451)
Last league title: 2004
2008 schedule: [view]
2007 statistics: [view]

Offensive: New offensive coordinator Tony Franklin is bringing a spread offense to Auburn, but there’s a larger question. Who’s the quarterback? Sophomore Kodi Burns and junior-college transfer Chris Todd are the candidates to replace three-year starter Brandon Cox. But at least the new guy will be well-armed. The offensive line returns all five starters, including sophomore left tackle Lee Ziemba, and the three top rushers are back, including senior Brad Lester and junior Ben Tate. There’s an abundance of candidates at the receiving positions, but no true go-to player.

Defensive: New defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads, formerly of Pittsburgh, has been impressed with Auburn’s speed. And the player who immediately grabbed his attention was junior linebacker Tray Blackmon, a mercurial talent who has been derailed by injuries and suspensions. If Blackmon remains healthy (and stays out of trouble), he looks like the defensive focal point. Sophomore Michael Goggans has emerged at defensive end, allowing junior Sen’Derrick Marks to shift to tackle. Junior Antonio Coleman is solid at the other end.

Specialists: Sophomore place-kicker Wes Byrum had a spectacular freshman season, making 17 of 23 field-goal attempts, including a walk-off game-winner at Florida. Sophomore punter Ryan Shoemaker needs more consistency.

Game of the year Nov. 29 at Alabama There are other games that might better shape Auburn’s championship aspirations, of course. But there’s only one Iron Bowl. Auburn has a school-record six straight victories against the Crimson Tide. Seventh heaven? It could happen.

Coaching: Tommy Tuberville has 80 victories in his nine seasons at Auburn, including an unbeaten finish in 2004. But to best understand the measure of his career, look to last season, when the Tigers began 1-2 (with two home losses) and seemed ready to drift into oblivion. Instead, Auburn won eight of its last 10 games, including a bowl victory against Clemson, to finish on a high note. That’s the greatest tribute to Tuberville. Almost always, his Auburn teams are in the hunt. This season, he’s breaking in two new coordinators (Franklin on offense, Rhoads on defense).

Heisman Hopefuls: None this season.

Overview: Auburn doesn’t really have the look of a SEC Championship Game-worthy team. Then again, there are no superpowers in the SEC West this season. And Auburn has many of its notable SEC opponents (LSU, Tennessee, Georgia) at home, while Florida has rotated off the schedule. If the offense works through its expected learning curve, and particularly if Auburn defeats LSU on Sept. 20, the Tigers could be playing for a title.

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