Auburn football's 'easiest' game left will be against rising star on the Bear Bryant COY Watch List

Even the "easiest" opponent left on Auburn football's schedule will have a head coach on the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Watch List on the opposite sideline: the University of Louisiana-Monroe's Bryant Vincent.

Per a ULM press release, Vincent's miracle work in turning the Warhawks into a winner in the post-Terry Bowden era has earned him consideration for the award named after legendary Alabama head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant.

"ULM football first-year head coach Bryant Vincent has been named to the American Heart Association's 2024 Paul 'Bear' Bryant Coach of the Year Award Watch List, the organization revealed on Wednesday (Oct. 16) morning," the press release read.

"Vincent has led the Warhawks to a 5-1 start for the first time since in 37 seasons and has been at the forefront of one of the most exciting turnarounds in college football. He was one of 27 head coaches in the country to be included in the list and was the lone coach from the Sun Belt Conference included. The award, given each January to a college football coach, recognizes contributions that make the sport better for athletes and fans alike by demonstrating grit, integrity and a winning approach to coaching and life – both on and off the field."

Auburn football still ended up having one of the tougher schedules in the sport

The 2024 schedule was supposed to be a reprieve for Auburn. Then Kentucky upset Ole Miss, Vanderbilt upset Alabama, and ULM, of all teams, became a world-beater.

Now, 2024 looks just as tough, if not tougher, than their 2023 campaign.

Alabama A&M and New Mexico could be the only "gimmes" on the schedule. And they're in the rearview. The Warhawks would've been at any other point in history, but Vincent is coaching them up in an unfathomable way; with their only loss coming to the current No. 1 team in the country, Texas.

The Tigers will seemingly never know the meaning of an easy slate.