CBS Sports' projects Auburn football's permanent opponents in future nine-game SEC schedule

There's been a great debate about how the SEC should format it's conference schedule with the addition of Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC.

For the first season with the Longhorns and Sooners, nothing will change.

The SEC's 2024 schedule will be announced on June 14 on special primetime show on SEC Network, per Brett McMurphy of the Action Network. Sports Illustrated's Ross Dellenger reports that The 2024 schedules are being released on June 14 on the SEC Network (matchups only - not dates).

McMurphy also reports that the SEC will stick with an eight-game conference schedule once the Longhorns and Sooners begin play next fall.

There has also been debate as to whether or not the league will stray away from it's current alignment - two divisions and a 1-7 conference schedule. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has indicated that a doing away with divisions could be on the horizon.

David Cobb of CBS Sports recently put together his projected permanent opponents for the Tigers in a nine-game conference schedule - which is believed to be the most likely format following the 2024 season.

Cobb thinks the Tigers' three permanent opponents could be Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi State.

Here's what Cobb had to say about the trio of games:

"Alabama and Georgia are obvious permanent rivals for Auburn because they are among the most storied rivalries in the conference," Cobb wrote. "However, it's a brutal draw given how dominant those squads are. To compensate, a Mississippi State program that should be among the most beatable in the conference starts out as Auburn's two-play partner."

The Tigers kick off the 2023 season on September 2nd at home vs UMass at 2 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Here's a look at the entire 2023 schedule:

Sept. 2nd vs UMass

Sept. 9th at California

Sept. 16th vs Samford

Sept. 23rd at Texas A&M

Sept. 30th vs Georgia

Oct. 14th at LSU

Oct. 21st vs Ole Miss

Oct. 28th vs Mississippi State

Nov. 4th at Vanderbilt

Nov. 11th at Arkansas

Nov. 18th vs New Mexico State

Nov. 25th vs Alabama

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