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College Football Countdown: Ranking Difficulty of Each Auburn Opponent

ByJake Mastroianni|
Nov 21, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; Helicopters perform a flyover prior to the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Idaho Vandals at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; Helicopters perform a flyover prior to the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Idaho Vandals at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports
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college football
Jan 1, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) gestures while running off the field at the end of the the second quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the 2016 Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

5 – Ole Miss: Level 6

The next two games on this list are very crucial as to how the 2016 Auburn football season goes as they are not games that the Tigers will be expected to win, but if they do it will save Gus Malzahn’s job.

Ole Miss lost a lot ton of talent to the NFL after winning 10 games a season ago, but they are still dangerous as they have the best quarterback in the SEC coming back in Chad Kelly.

In 2015 he threw for 4,042 yards and 31 touchdowns, and he was second on the team in rushing with 500 yards and 10 more touchdowns. However, he loses his top target in Laquon Treadwell who caught 82 passes for 1,153 yards and 11 touchdowns last year.

Jan 1, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (1) and head coach Hugh Freeze prepares to take the field to play the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the 2016 Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (1) and head coach Hugh Freeze prepares to take the field to play the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the 2016 Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Kelly should still have a great season and be a favorite to win the Heisman Trophy if his numbers stay on par and Ole Miss continues to win games.

Overall they return five starters on an offense that averaged 40.8 points per game last season, and averaged 334.7 passing yards per game. Senior wide receiver Quincy Adeboyejo will try to replace Treadwell after catching 38 passes for 604 yards and 7 touchdowns last year.

They will have to find a new running back with their leader from last year, Jaylen Walton (730 yards and 5 touchdowns) now gone.

They also only return five starters on a defense that gave up just 22.6 points per game a season ago. They lose the Nkemdiche brothers, but do return their top tackler from last season in linebacker DeMarquis Gate who had 76 tackles and two for a loss.

Junior defensive lineman Marquis Haynes returns after leading the team with 10 sacks and 16.5 tackles for a loss in 2015. And in the secondary, junior defensive back Ken Webster comes back after registering 1 interception and 11 pass break ups last season.

Ole Miss gets Auburn at home a week after traveling to play LSU, and a week before playing Georgia Southern. Auburn gets them after a home game with Arkansas and before a home game with Vanderbilt, so I think the Tigers have the advantage there.

If it weren’t for Chad Kelly coming back I think Ole Miss would be looking at a 6-6 season, but a quarterback is very important to having success in college football – as we know – and Kelly is a good one. We’ll know a lot about Ole Miss after their week one matchup with Florida State.

Chances of winning: 48 percent

Next: Georgia

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