Who are toughest opponents on Auburn football schedule 2022? Ranking all 12 by difficulty

AUBURN — As usual, Auburn has one of the most difficult schedules in college football this season.

But which 2022 matchup is toughest? Where does Auburn need to steal a game?

Here are the 12 opponents ranked in reverse order based on difficulty.

12. Mercer (home)

Mercer finished second in the Southern Conference last season and was battle-tested at Alabama. Can Auburn win by more than the Crimson Tide's 48-14?

11. San Jose State (home)

A familiar Mountain West opponent for Auburn coach Bryan Harsin. San Jose State's conference title defense stalled last season with 20 points per game. Its defense should be better than its offense this year. Cupcake game.

10. Western Kentucky (home)

The Hilltoppers are the best non-power conference opponent Auburn will face. They lost offensive mastermind Zach Kittley, but they're adding sixth-year grad transfer quarterback Jarret Doege, a former West Virginia starter.

9. Missouri (home)

Missouri has a higher-rated freshman signing class than Auburn, including the top receiver recruit in the country, Luther Burden. He'll test Auburn's overhauled secondary in the SEC opener, but the five-star doesn't know who will be throwing to him yet.

8. Mississippi State (away)

Auburn fans still shiver at any mention of coach Mike Leach's Air Raid offense or quarterback Will Rogers, who completed 34 of his last 37 passes for six touchdowns last November. The Tigers blew a 28-3 lead. Now they have to face Rogers while cowbells are egging him on.

7. Penn State (home)

Auburn plans to counter Penn State's whiteout game with an orange-out. Maybe that backdrop will help the Tigers defend quarterback Sean Clifford better than last year, when he was 28-for-32 passing. The Nittany Lions lack running options. High-pressure road game for coach James Franklin after receiving a huge extension.

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6. LSU (home)

Ed Orgeron did a little with a lot. This isn't Orgeron's LSU anymore. New coach Brian Kelly revamped the roster with transfers, including former Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels. Auburn's loaded defensive front should have a field day against a weak offensive line.

5. Arkansas (home)

This feels like a must-win home game considering Auburn's other opponents, but the Razorbacks are improving at an alarming pace. The defense added intraconference transfers from LSU, Alabama and Georgia. Oklahoma's Jadon Hazelwood patches the hole left by receiver Treylon Burks. Can quarterback K.J. Jefferson end Arkansas' six-game losing streak to Auburn?

4. Ole Miss (away)

Coach Lane Kiffin lost two coordinators, not to mention quarterback Matt Corral. Still, the Rebels' talent is imposing. Auburn's promising defense hopes one thing that doesn't change is Kiffin's fatal temptation to gamble on fourth down.

3. Texas A&M (home)

Coach Jimbo Fisher's top-ranked but, uh, much-maligned 2022 signing class has commandeered headlines. Whether he can turn talent into results is another question. The Aggies have three QB1 contenders: five-star Conner Weigman, LSU transfer Max Johnson and Haynes King, whose injury last year gave Zach Calzada an opportunity. Now Calzada might start for Auburn.

2. Georgia (away)

The national champions are losing 15 players to the NFL Draft, including eight from the historic 2021 defense. But coach Kirby Smart's recruiting machine motors on. The Bulldogs bring in the No. 3 class, and they have a core of returning stars on offense (tight end Brock Bowers) and defense (defensive lineman Jalen Carter).

1. Alabama (away)

Lost the title, but still the best. Heisman winner Bryce Young is back. Edge Will Anderson Jr. is back, spearheading what could be coach Nick Saban's greatest defensive front. Oh, and the average score of the last five Iron Bowls in Tuscaloosa? Alabama 45.6, Auburn 18.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football schedule: Ranking 2022 opponents by difficulty