That schedule is getting massively overhyped. Auburn has to play Georgia and Alabama every year, that's not new, and calling it a top-5 SOS is a stretch. Their non-conference is Oklahoma, which is tough, but also ULM and New Mexico. The middle of the SEC is a total question mark. Texas A&M and Missouri are in that top 25, but both have major quarterback situations to figure out. Missouri lost a ton of production, and their ranking is based on hope more than proven roster strength. Auburn gets Oklahoma and Georgia at home. Their road tests are at Alabama and at Missouri. That's a typical SEC West slate, not some historic gauntlet. Look at Colorado's schedule for comparison. They face Utah, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and Arizona, all likely ranked, plus a non-conference game at Nebraska that will be tougher than people think. The Big 12 is deeper top to bottom this year. Auburn's path is hard, but calling it uniquely brutal ignores that every team in that league faces a similar grind. Their own offensive consistency is a bigger issue than who they play. They averaged under 22 points per game against SEC opponents last season. Until they fix that, the schedule is irrelevant.