Much like last season, Auburn battles a Pac-12 favorite to start the season in a neutral site. OK, so playing Washington in Atlanta last year might not have been so “neutral,” but it will be closer to a 50/50 crowd when the Tigers take the field against Oregon on Saturday evening at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

We know all of the game stories for Auburn — terrific defensive line, true freshman starting his first game at quarterback, Gus Malzahn calling plays again — but what do the Tigers have to do on the field to walk out 1-0 with momentum heading into the rest of the season?

Here are 5 things that we have to see out of Auburn in Week 1.

1. Gus being Gus

We shall see if all of the talk about Malzahn being a new coach and person — and at the same time, being his old self offensively — is true. Gone is him trying to rely on an offensive coordinator to call the plays. He has reinstalled himself as the main guy.

Tigers fans might have seen a preview of that in last season’s blowout victory against Purdue in the Music City Bowl as Auburn racked up 56 points in the first half alone. If Auburn is going to be successful on offense, it has to be the 2013 version of Gus and not the conservative one.

2. Secondary steps up

As good as Auburn’s defensive line is, that is how good Oregon’s offensive line is, therefore the winner at the other positions will help determine how well Kevin Steele’s unit plays. Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert is an elite passer who could already be in the NFL. He will challenge Auburn’s veteran secondary. While the wide receiver corps could be a sore spot for the Ducks due to injury, they are still talented enough to cause problems for the Tigers. Noah Igbinoghene and Co. better be ready.

3. Wide receivers take the leap

Like the Ducks, there are questions about Auburn’s receivers. The biggest is: Who will become Bo Nix’s go-to target? There are plenty of candidates — such as Seth Williams and Will Hastings, who returns from missing 2018 due to an ACL injury — but 1 or 2 have to become a comfortable source for Nix. Anthony Schwartz (questionable) and Eli Stove could also become major guys in the passing game.

4. Offensive line become a force

It is time for these 5 guys, all seniors and all returning starters, to become a boulder for the offense and open holes for running back Boobie Whitlow and protect Nix. It was a weak spot last season, but taking on a defensive line smaller than the average SEC line could be at an advantage Saturday. If the o-line plays well for Auburn, the Tigers’ chances of winning increases tenfold.

5. Nix embraces the moment

This is a game that Nix, the son of former Auburn quarterback Patrick Nix, has been waiting on for seemingly all of his life. He came to The Plains and won the starting job, something that a true freshman rarely does anywhere — and not since 1946 at Auburn. Heck, Malzahn even let him talk to the media, which is even rarer for a newcomer. The jitters will be there, but Nix will have to settle down, realize that he is on the field for a reason and do what he does best: play quarterback and win games.