Auburn football: How Bryan Harsin could become SEC COY candidate in 2022

Auburn football HC Bryan Harsin is on the hot seat this coming season, but the worst-case scenario isn’t guaranteed.

When Auburn has its back up against the wall, history tells us that’s when the Tigers thrive. With that said, though, very few years in the history of the Auburn football program have ever had the combination of low expectations and vitriol from sections of the fanbase towards the head coach.

2022 should be trying on paper, but since we’re talking about what could happen on paper, let’s be as optimistic as Zac Blackerby of Locked On Auburn and Auburn Daily.

The podcast host and SI editor laid out the best-case scenario for the second season of the Bryan Harsin era:

"“Assuming Auburn loses to Georgia, Texas A&M, and Alabama, Auburn’s maximum wins will probably stay at nine. If Auburn wins more than nine games, Bryan Harsin should be an SEC Coach of the Year candidate.”"

Auburn football will need a miracle season to be a nine-win team

Eight wins was Fly War Eagle’s realistic best-case scenario from the 2021 campaign, but that isn’t something we’re confident enough in projecting this season after the roster turnover this season.

Losing Bo Nix could prove to be an even bigger deal if he can lead the Oregon to anything of significance in the Pac-12 this coming year, but the talent drop-off from him to T.J. Finley or Zach Calzada could be evident in 2022 as both get a full campaign to run the offense.

The NFL did the rest of the damage, taking second-round pick Roger McCreary, Smoke Monday, and Zakoby McClain, among others, away from the defense.

We hope so badly to be wrong about this upcoming fall, but 2021 left us with failed expectations and skepticism moving forward, and A-Day didn’t do enough to change that.