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CFB Analyst Reveals Key to Auburn's Offensive Success in 2025
CFB Analyst Reveals Key to Auburn's Offensive Success in 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Auburn Tigers were one of the worst teams in college football in terms of turnover margin in 2024. Advertisement The Tigers ranked 120th in college football, with a margin of (-9). However, On3's JD PicKell discussed how Auburn could right the ship this season. He believed it would all come down to Oklahoma Sooners transfer Jackson Arnold on a recent edition of "The Hard Count." Arnold played in 10 games, with nine starts, last season, throwing for 1,421 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, and three interceptions. While the interceptions do not look too bad, Arnold struggled more with fumbles last season. He fumbled the ball nine times in 2024. Oklahoma Sooners QB Jackson Arnold.© William Purnell-Imagn Images "Auburn's success in 2025 offensively will go with the confidence of one Jackson Arnold," PicKell said. "Because when you play confident football, you usually play efficient football. Efficient football equates to somewhat low mistake football. Which is what plagued Arnold at Oklahoma." Advertisement Arnold was not the starter for long at Oklahoma last season. After a rough start against the Tennessee Volunteers, where he threw one interception and lost two fumbles, he was benched. Michael Hawkins Jr. started the next three games before Arnold was put back in the starting role for the remainder of the season. Fast forward to 2025, and Arnold is expected to compete for the starting job at Auburn. The Tigers added a solid weapon for the quarterback to use in former Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets receiver Eric Singleton Jr. In other recruiting news for Auburn, the Tigers were dealt a tough blow with five-star running back Ezavier Crowell after he committed to the Alabama Crimson Tide. Advertisement The team did make history with one of its recent commitments, however. Three-star offensive tackle Nikau Hepi was the first player from the NFL Academy Asia-Pacific campus to commit to a United States college. Hepi is a three-star prospect via 247Sports and hails from New Zealand. Arnold and Auburn kick off the 2025 season against the Baylor Bears on August 29. Related: Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium Ranking for EA Sports College Football 26 Revealed This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
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2 days ago
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College Football Expert Says Florida is Most Important Program in 2025
College Football Expert Says Florida is Most Important Program in 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Florida Gators have a tough road ahead of them in the 2025 season. With one of if not the toughest schedules in college football, UF will have a big impact on the outlook of the College Football Playoff come December. Advertisement Florida will face four teams who finished in the top 11 of the AP Poll at the end of last season and five of the top 25 this fall. Because of this gauntlet of a schedule, On3's J.D. PicKell tabbed the Gators as "the most important team in college football in 2025." PicKell said that because Florida plays several teams with CFP aspirations early in the season, UF could become a "course-setter" for the college football landscape." Florida Gators wide receiver Dallas Wilson (6).Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images After matchups against Long Island University and USF to begin the year, the Gators will play two straight road games against LSU and Miami before coming back to Gainesville to host the Texas Longhorns. Advertisement This three-week stretch will say a lot about both Florida's chances of making the 12-team playoff and its opponents' chances as well. "If Florida ends up being a version of what they were in November from last year," PicKell said. "Florida could be not just a party crasher... might mess around, knock on the back door trying to get in the College Football Playoff [themselves]." The Gators finished the 2024 season winners of four straight with victories over LSU, Ole Miss, Florida State and a Gasparilla Bowl win against Tulane. There is no doubt it will be tough sledding for Florida in 2025, but, as PicKell said, there is a chance the Gators could play spoiler or make a run themselves. Related: 2027 Four-Star Recruit Puts Florida in Top 12 This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
