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Auburn facing opponent uncertainty ahead of critical Week 2 matchup

By Andrew Hughes

Auburn football is facing opponent uncertainty ahead of the Tigers' critical Week 2 matchup -- making game-planning tough on Hugh Freeze and his staff Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Auburn football is facing opponent uncertainty ahead of the Tigers' critical Week 2 matchup -- making game-planning tough on Hugh Freeze and his staff Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Auburn football coaching will be facing uncertainty in game-planning for their Week 2 matchup with Cal, considering the day-to-day injury designation for starting Golden Bears quarterback Sam Jackson.

“Auburn will spend the week game-planning for its first Power Five opponent of the season without knowing who will be operating the opposing offense,” 247Sports Nathan King prefaced before saying, “Cal head coach Justin Wilcox said Tuesday that starting quarterback Sam Jackson is ‘day to day’ after suffering an upper-body injury in the Golden Bears’ 58-21 win at North Texas on Saturday. Jackson ‘was out there running around and practicing today,’ but Wilcox won’t know his status until closer to game time.”

AU is riding off the high of a spread-covering 59-14 victory over UMass on September 2 in Hugh Freeze’s head coaching debut on the Plains. Cal presents the Tigers’ first Power Five opponent in the new regime, and a test that is uncertain at this point; considering Ben Finley went for 279 passing yards, a touchdown throw, and an interception on a 24/34 passing day.

Hugh Freeze on Cal: This will be a good test for Auburn football

Freeze was not happy about having to make what is ultimately a cumbersome trip to the West Coast, but he did acknowledge that Cal will be a “good test” for his Auburn football program’s second game.

“I think it creates some challenges, but this will be a good test for all of us,” Freeze said (h/t AL.com). “Coaches, trainers, staff, nutritionists, drink staff, support staff, players. How do we handle it if things are a little uncomfortable? You’ve gotta play a really good football team at their place when our body times are 9:30 or 10 at night and we’re kicking it off. All of that is going to be a challenge, but you know what, that’s what life is.”

A win over Cal could boost Auburn into or near the AP Top 25, considering they are No. 35 by votes in the Week 2 poll and there are several games between teams in and around the top 25. It’s exciting to be discussing AU in the same breath as college football rankings.

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