Mike Farrell says Bryan Harsin hire could set Auburn football back 5 years

Mike Farrell, formerly the NFL and college football recruiting analyst for over two decades at Yahoo and now an independent journalist, says that the Auburn football program could take a step back in 2022.

He also said that the Tigers could be set back five years because of the Bryan Harsin hire that followed the pandemic-stricken 2020 season.

Farrell specifically took aim at the current Auburn football culture–which, according to everyone around the team during spring camp, has reportedly been improved ten-fold from Harsin’s debut season–in his justification for why 6-7 will be better than what we are set to see this year.

In his piece entitled ‘5 Teams That Could Take a Step Back‘, Farrell claims that Auburn was the obvious choice for Farrell (LSU apparently already reached rock bottom) and said that we shouldn’t be surprised if a coaching search took place within the next nine months:

"“This obvious choice here, especially as LSU has already hit rock bottom so to speak. We all know about the turmoil happening around the Auburn program and Bryan Harsin seems in way over his head. Between the mass exodus of players and coaches and the issues surrounding the team’s culture, it’s a recipe for disaster. Don’t be surprised if the administration is looking for a new head coach within the next nine months and this hire could set them back five years or more.”"

Who could replace Bryan Harsin as Auburn football head coach

Bryan Harsin doesn’t have the longest leash in 2022, and a step forward from a losing record is all but necessary to see the former Boise State product’s time on the Plains continue into 2023 and beyond. While he does have a potential ace up his sleeve on the recruiting trail in Lausanne (Tenn.) Collegiate School QB Brock Glenn, wins on the gridiron are all that will save Harsin and co.

Should new AU president Chris Roberts force Allen Greene’s hand and force a second coaching search in three years, there could be veteran coaches around the SEC that could be next in line for the Tigers HC role.

Lane Kiffin has reportedly been linked to the potential opening already, while Gus Malzahn’s affinity for Auburn could always keep the door open for a return should things with UCF ever go sour.