AuburnFamilyNews.com: Open Thread - #16 Auburn vs #11 Oregon

Saturday, August 31, 2019

Open Thread - #16 Auburn vs #11 Oregon

We’re starting 2019 off in the fast lane!

Kickoff for the 2019 season comes in T-minus three hours. Enjoy the camaraderie of your fellow Auburn fans in the comments as we live and die with each other for what we know will turn out to be another nail-biter.

Auburn faces off against Oregon in a rematch of the 2011 BCS National Championship Game, where the Tigers won their second title by a score of 22-19. This time, things are different in a lot of ways, but the same in many. Gus Malzahn still roams the sideline for Auburn (although in a different capacity), and he’s making a bit of a return to his normal 2010 responsibilities by taking on the role of play-caller again.

Across the field, Oregon’s no longer a speedy, hurry-up blur. They’re led by Mario Cristobal, who’s got experience coaching in the SEC, and who knows what it will take to stop Auburn on both sides of the ball. Still, they’re running more of a pro-style offense with future NFL quarterback Justin Herbert.

For Auburn, the quarterback position is likely the most important one on the field, as we get to see freshman Bo Nix either sink or swim in the face of the bright lights in Jerry World. He’s got one heck of a supporting cast around him on offense and defense, so his entry into big-time college football should be as easy as it’s going to get.

We get the big treatment tonight, everyone. Sit back and enjoy being the marquee show this weekend around college football. With the right result, this could shape up to be a huge year on the Plains. War Damn Eagle!