Auburn has found itself 0-2 in SEC play after two disappointing losses to Oklahoma and Texas A&M in back-to-back weeks. That losing streak followed a 3-0 start that had Tigers fans hoping for a return to competing for an SEC title and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
While those hopes aren't completely dashed, Hugh Freeze's squad does face yet another two-week run against ranked teams in Jordan-Hare Stadium, starting with No. 12 Georgia in the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry next Saturday, while No. 19 Missouri comes to town on Oct. 18.
Win those two games, and the Tigers are back in the SEC and playoff hunt, but for now, bowl projections are not precisely what Auburn fans wanted or expected heading into Freeze's third season on the Plains.
According to ESPN's latest projections, Auburn will either travel to nearby Birmingham for the Birmingham Bowl, where it will face NC State on December 29. The other expert has the Tigers making a further trip to Memphis, where they would take on Cincinnati on Jan. 2 in the Liberty Bowl.
With a bye week, the Tigers have time to refocus and get back to what was winning them games early in the season. If not, another mediocre bowl will be what awaits Auburn and its fans at the end of the season.