Auburn must beat its biggest rivals to win an SEC title and eventually a national title.
For the Tigers to make this goal a reality, a primary point of contention will be recruiting. Alabama and Georgia continually reside inside the top-five recruiting rankings for Rivals and other recruiting services. LSU is often in that grouping as well.
Here are key recruiting battles between Auburn and each of those three programs that are litmus tests for the Tigers eventually being just as talented on the gridiron with the Crimson Tide, Bulldogs, and Bayou Bengals.
Jared Smith DE Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson
Auburn wants to make a bigger dent in the greater Birmingham area, a city that's 45 minutes from Tuscaloosa and for 15 years a stronghold held by Nick Saban and the Tide. Here's as good a chance as any for Auburn to change the recent past.
After interviewing Smith during Under Armour Atlanta, it's apparent that he's going to take his unofficial and official visits and make a decision from there. A true apples-to-apples comparison, if one will. Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, and Tennessee would be the four schools Smith mentioned directly this past Sunday.
The 6-foot-6 235-pound defensive end with size 18 shoes (yes, literally) is the No. 10 player nationally by 247. His length, first-step explosiveness, and long-term upside make him as desirable as any defensive end recruit in the nation.
Landing Smith would be a shot across the bow from Auburn to Alabama. It would also help Auburn's roster to ascend to a higher level.
Justus Terry DL Manchester (Ga.) High School
Although Terry is committed to UGA, there's definitively one school to watch here and that's Auburn. Yes, Alabama, Florida State, and many others are coming after the talented defensive lineman as well. It's still the coaching staff on the Plains that continues to be the biggest threat to Kirby Smart and Georgia.
Manchester is just over an hour from Auburn. If the Tigers truly want to beat the Bulldogs on the field they need more talent, size, speed, and depth coming from their recruiting efforts.
At a muscular 6-foot-4 and 263 pounds, Terry is arguably the nation's best 2025 prospect. He will be able to help Auburn in many ways if he joins its recruiting class. The Tigers truly have a shot if the following happens.
Does Terry continue to make trips to Auburn during spring practice? If the answer is yes, look out for the Tigers. Those actions would lead one to believe Auburn at least gains an official visit from Terry. At that point, anything can happen.
Micah Debose OL Prichard (Ala.) Vigor
For decades, LSU has been known to swoop into the Yellowhammer State and land a top prospect. There are a few 2025 Alabama prep prospects that the Purple and Gold would like to sign, including arguably Auburn's top offensive line prospect in DeBose.
Simply put, that cannot happen. LSU might be the biggest threat to DeBose not coming to Auburn. On3 recruiting analyst Chad Simmons just made a public prediction that DeBose would sign with LSU.
This is happening with Auburn being the other school most feel would be a landing spot for DeBose. There are few offensive line recruits with the upside of DeBose. Auburn has to find a way to turn the momentum around.
More must-reads: