Sporting News projects Auburn football to meet FSU in bowl season
Auburn football fans have the same mindset as former Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis when it comes to its outlook on the season, "just win, baby."
Auburn football has failed to win more than six games since the 2019 season, and its coaching staff has worked to bring in the best talent to rebuild the program into an SEC Championship contender, as well as a player in College Football Playoff chatter. However, fans are antsy and are ready to see rebuilding efforts show on the field. One publication believes the Tigers are taking a step in the right direction as a recent projection sends the Tigers to a quality Florida bowl game.
Sporting News recently dropped its preseason bowl projections, pairing Auburn with an old non-conference rival in Florida State. The forecast, published by Bill Bender, predicts the Tigers and Seminoles will meet in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Dec. 27 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.
This projection is interesting as it puts two teams on similar paths together in a postseason game. The Seminoles showed promise of being a College Football Playoff contender in 2023 by entering bowl season with a 13-0 record. However, their playoff dreams were dashed when quarterback Jordan Travis suffered a season-ending injury in Florida State's win over North Alabama. Travis was deemed a Heisman Trophy candidate, and the playoff committee felt that the Seminoles were not as powerful of a team without him, which resulted in Alabama earning the fourth College Football Playoff slot. The Seminoles lost to Georgia in the Orange Bowl, 63-3, a game that the Seminoles are still recovering from. Last season, Florida State finished 2-10, and are looking to return to national prominence.
The two programs, which are separated by less than 200 miles, have played 19 times in history. Auburn owns a 13-5-1 record over the Seminoles, but Florida State won the recent game, 34-31, in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game.
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
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