The Auburn Tigers have a brutal 2019 schedule, which will be made more difficult by the fact that they’ll be breaking in a freshman quarterback — either Bo Nix or Joey Gatewood.

On the schedule for the Tigers are a neutral-site opener vs. Oregon, trips to Texas A&M, Florida and LSU and home games against rivals Georgia and Alabama.

While discussing the Tigers’ schedule on the SEC Network on Thursday morning, former Auburn coach Gene Chizik said he thinks the two most important games on the slate come in the first four weeks.

Chizik said if the Tigers fall to Oregon and Texas A&M, the season may quickly get out of hand:

“If you stumble out of the gate early, they will pile on,” he said. “The coaches will wear it everyday and the players wear it everyday.”

How will Auburn handle its difficult schedule? We’ll find out starting on Aug. 31 in Arlington.