2006 record: 11-2, 6-2 (2nd-tie in SEC West)
2006 bowl: Beat Nebraska 17-14 in Cotton
2006 final AP/coaches' ranking: 9/8
Coach: Tommy Tuberville (71-29, 8 years; 96-49 overall, 12 years)
Offensive coordinator: Al Borges (4th year)
Defensive coordinator: Will Muschamp (2nd year)
Returning offensive starters: 5
Returning defensive starters: 7
Location: Auburn, Ala.
Stadium: Jordan-Hare (grass, 87,451)
Last league title: 2004
2007 schedule: [view]
2006 statistics: [view]

Offensive: Senior quarterback Brandon Cox took a step backward last season. It wasn’t all his fault. He didn’t get enough help from the running game or his fleet of receivers. But a healthy, confident Cox means prosperity for the Tigers. He’s a leader. Auburn hopes junior Brad Lester can emerge as the primary running back, although the depth is decent. The receivers still have much to prove, but junior Rodrigues Smith has shown nice flashes. Four starters are gone from the offensive line, but 6-foot-9, 321-pound senior left tackle King Dunlap is scary good.

Defensive: New defensive coordinator Will Muschamp will have the Tigers in attacking mode. The trademark of an Auburn defense is speed over size, a philosophy typified by senior Quentin Groves (6-4, 254), a down lineman who might be used as outside linebacker when Auburn employs a 3-4 formation. Sophomore Sen’Derrick Marks has moved from tackle to end, mostly because coaches have gained confidence in interior linemen Josh Thompson and Pat Sims, the space-eaters. An inexperienced linebacking corps would benefit from the return of Tray Blackmon, often troubled by off-field transgressions. The secondary is somewhat unsettled with only sophomore free safety Aairon Savage considered a sure thing.

Specialists: The return game looks solid with Tristan Davis (27.0-yard average) taking back kickoffs and Mario Fannin handling the punt returns, but the Tigers probably will be forced to go with freshmen at place-kicker and punter.

Game of the year Oct. 20, at LSU Tigers vs. Tigers in the annual SEC West slugfest. The last three meetings were decided by a combined eight points.

Coaching: Tommy Tuberville is a survivor. He weathered a failed coup to bounce him out of a job in 2003. He has kept Auburn competitive in the rigorous SEC. And he has added Muschamp — Nick Saban’s old right-hand man — to coordinate the defense.

Heisman Hopefuls: Cox is efficient, with winning qualities that any coach would love, but he doesn’t look like Heisman material.

Overview: On paper, Auburn’s schedule looks great with eight home games. But the road trips — particularly games at Florida and LSU — will set the tone. Auburn fans are justifiably nervous about the team’s question-mark areas, but having Cox, a senior quarterback, provides stability. The Tigers have the look of a good — but not great — SEC contender.

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