How ESPN's Football Power Index ranks Auburn's 2025 opponents

USA Today

07-06-2025

How ESPN's Football Power Index ranks Auburn's 2025 opponents Half of Auburn's 2025 opponents begin the season ranked in the top 25 of ESPN's Football Power Index rankings.
For anyone in the SEC, the schedule is always a grueling one. Despite the conference not having a national championship in the last two seasons, the league is still regarded by most as the best in college football. The Auburn schedule for 2025 is a tough one, but it is also a manageable one. The conference schedule is the same as 2024 except the home and away portion is flipped. The Tigers add Baylor, Ball State, South Alabama, and Mercer to the schedule.
This week ESPN released their Football Power Index rankings, and Auburn ranks No. 14 in the country. The FPI gives Auburn a win prediction of 7.5 games with a 21.8% chance of making the College Football Playoff. Eight wins would be a huge improvement after the previous four seasons, but is it enough for Hugh Freeze? Time will only tell on that discussion.
The schedule of opponents will also go a long way in determining the final record. Auburn will be playing good teams most weeks. The opener versus Baylor will be important, and a 1-0 start is pivotal. The FPI is projecting the Bears to go 7-5 this upcoming season and place sixth in the Big 12. Baylor closed out the regular season with six consecutive wins before losing the LSU in their bowl game. They finished 8-5 and will be looking to continue their 2024 momentum.
Auburn will host the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the FPI rankings this season in Alabama and Georgia. Both teams are projected to win ten games and play in the College Football Playoff. Auburn has not beaten the Crimson Tide since 2019, and it has been even longer since they beat the Bulldogs. The last win over Georgia was in 2017.
Auburn will have a tricky two-game stretch early in the season when they visit Oklahoma and Texas A&M in back-to-back weeks. The Sooners are looking to be more competitive this season and FPI has projected them at seven wins. The Aggies win total is projected at eight wins, and they should be a team in the College Football Playoff discussion. The road trip to Norman, Oklahoma could be an emotional game. Quarterback Jackson Arnold will be looking to have a big game versus his former team.
Here is a look at Auburn's schedule, broken down by ESPN FPI ranking:
Oct. 11 vs. Georgia (No. 2)
Nov. 29 vs. Alabama (No. 3)
Sept. 27 at Texas A&M (No. 8)
Sept. 20 at Oklahoma (No. 16)
Oct. 25 at Arkansas (No. 22)
Oct. 18 vs. Missouri (No. 23)
Aug. 28 at Baylor (No. 33)
Nov. 1 vs. Kentucky (No. 34)
Nov. 8 at Vanderbilt (No. 56)
Sept. 13 vs. South Alabama (No. 83)
Sept. 6 vs. Ball State (No. 132)
Nov. 22 vs. Mercer (FCS-N/A)
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__