Paul Finebaum reveals Auburn's realistic ceiling for 2025 season

Auburn has a lot to prove this season after posting a 5-7 record and a 2-6 mark in the 2024 campaign, Hugh Freeze‘s second season as the Tigers’ head coach. During an appearance on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum revealed what he believes is Auburn’s ceiling in the upcoming season.

“For Auburn, it’s being competitive in the SEC,” Finebaum said. “You can’t lose a game like Vanderbilt at home. You can’t just throw away nonconference games like they did last year against Cal. It’s just little silly things. The Oklahoma game, inexcusable. I just gave you three games that Auburn should have won.

“Now, you do the math, what’s the record? I mean, they have a pretty good record right now. I think they have to be able to do that.”

Auburn fell to California 21-14 in Week 2 of last season. At the time, it didn’t look like too bad of a loss, but California ultimately finished the season with just a 6-7 record.

As Finebaum mentioned, Auburn also suffered losses to Arkansas, Oklahoma and Vanderbilt. All three of those teams finished in the bottom half of the SEC standings. While Finebaum doesn’t expect Auburn to be a powerhouse next season, he’s confident the Tigers will take a step forward.

“I think the opener is a little bit scary because it’s a hostile situation on the first Friday night with a new quarterback. But, I think they’ll live and die with Jackson Arnold,” Finebaum said. “Ultimately, though, I think it’s a much better team.

“I think it’s a much better staff, and I think somewhere in that eight-win range would be considered successful. I know that’s below Auburn standards, maybe nine, but you can’t go below eight. Otherwise, the program just looks like it is literally stuck in the mud.”

Auburn will travel to Baylor for its season opener. The Bears will be an immediate test for the Tigers. Baylor went 8-5 last season and is expected to be even better in the 2025 campaign.

None of Auburn’s other non-conference games should cause them too much trouble, but the SEC gauntlet will push the Tigers to their limits. Finebaum isn’t sure if Auburn will bend under the pressure or break entirely.

Hugh Freeze can’t afford to allow the latter to occur. He is 11-14 through his first two seasons at the helm and desperately needs to show he’s still leading the program in the right direction.