Auburn football slated to face another grueling schedule in 2026

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The Auburn Tigers face the challenges of playing a brutal schedule every season as a member of the SEC. This season will be no different as ESPN ranks the Tigers' strength of schedule among the toughest in the nation.

ESPN recently updated its Football Power Index, which measures various aspects of every FBS program, including strength of schedule, chances of earning a College Football Playoff bid, and efficiency rankings. Entering the 2026 season, Auburn boasts the 13th toughest schedule in the country in a category that is top-heavy with SEC programs.

The SEC holds 14 of the top 15 slots in ESPN's FPI strength of schedule ranking, with all 16 SEC squads residing in the top 20. Outside of the top 15 are Vanderbilt (No. 18) and Georgia (No. 20). Ohio State is the lone non-SEC school in the top 15, with Michigan, Northwestern, and USC rounding out the top 20.

As is the case for every SEC team, Auburn football will play a plethora of talented teams in 2026. The Tigers will face three teams with a 39% chance or higher to earn a College Football Playoff berth, and four teams on their schedule have a chance to win the CFP National Championship. Nine of Auburn's 2026 opponents are projected to win at least six games.

As for Auburn, the Tigers have a 70% chance of winning six games this season and a 12% chance of making their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance, according to ESPN's early projections. The Tigers are one of 13 SEC teams with at least a 60% chance to win six games, which, if accomplished, would be their first six-win season since 2023.

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This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn football slated to face another grueling schedule in 2026

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