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Texas A&M Football: 2023 Schedule Preview – Auburn

By Graham Harmon

Auburn Tigers quarterback Robby Ashford (9) warms up during the A-Day spring football game at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, April 8, 2023.
Auburn Tigers quarterback Robby Ashford (9) warms up during the A-Day spring football game at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, April 8, 2023. /
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It is hard to overstate how dreadful the Tigers were on offense last year. The Aggies—who, of course, had their own litany of issues on the offensive side last year—saw that firsthand during their 2022 matchup. The passing game especially was lacking for the Tigers, who exceeded their opponent’s average YPA allowed only four times last season. Payton Thorne, formerly of Michigan State, has come in to give returning starter Robby Ashford a run for his money at the QB spot. Ashford was proficient in running the ball, but struggled mightily when it came time to throw, completing under 50% of his passes for the year and tossing the same amount of interceptions as touchdowns: seven. For context, Conner Weigman—who started only the second half of the year in a similarly awful passing offense—had eight passing touchdowns for the season.

The Tigers did have a decent defense last year and likely will once more in 2023. Freeze tabbed former Baylor DC Ron Roberts as his man on the defensive side of the ball. Roberts spent the last three years learning under Dave Aranda—likely the brightest defensive mind in the college game at the moment—and will likely bring some of what he’s learned to the plains. It won’t be easy sledding for the Aggies and new OC Bobby Petrino, so the hope is definitely that the Ags have things ironed out by this early point in the season.

Whether Thorne or Ashford—or some combination thereof—is the starter, odds are that Freeze will have this Auburn passing attack in much better shape, similar to what the Texas A&M football faithful hope Petrino will do for the Aggies. High-powered offense is Freeze’s calling card, and Auburn fans hope he can bring an immediate jolt to their program when it comes to piling up both yards and points. The Aggie corners will be tested down the field and in one-on-one coverage. Luckily, it appears that the secondary will yet again be a strength for Texas A&M football, who boasted a great pass defense amid all the muck of last year and return many contributors at the second level of their defense. The biggest question is how equipped the Aggies will be to handle the Auburn rushing attack. With the maturation of the tons of raw talent A&M has accrued up front, this is a chance for them to begin to announce their presence in 2023.

I’ve got the Aggies winning this one—they are favored in the preseason, but I will say that I think it will be a closer call than many currently think. Freeze will surprise some people this year, but in the friendly confines of Kyle Field, I think the Aggies will pull out a win.