How far would Auburn have to go to make it to the College Football Playoffs in 2024?

Here’s what it would take for the Tigers to make the playoff this season.

The Auburn Tigers won’t be near any playoff conversations this offseason.

With the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 teams, the Tigers could find themselves near the conversation soon, however. Hugh Freeze is doing everything he can to improve Auburn’s talent roster, and the momentum on the recruiting trail is giving fans hope.

Let’s say Auburn somehow finds themselves in the CFP hunt in 2024. What would it take for the Tigers to make it?

Here are five things that will need to happen.

A much improved passing attack

Auburn ranked dead last in the SEC in passing yards per game in 2023 (162.2 YPG) and will look to dramatically improve that number in 2024.

Whether or not the young receiver talent takes off in Freeze’s second season will likely be answered through his scheming, but the Tigers still have solid pieces around the likes of Cam Coleman and Perry Thompson. Finding a quarterback that can actually get them the ball will be the biggest question. Incumbent Payton Thorne was subpar in his first season on the Plains, leading Freeze to claim the QB competition is “wide open” heading into the spring.

Getting Thorne, newcomer Walker White, or someone else to lead the offense more effectively than a season ago will be paramount.

At least ten wins

Not slipping up in the non-conference schedule feels like it should go without saying. After the New Mexico State shocker last year, every non-con slate should be mentioned carefully mentioned moving forward.