Auburn (8-4, 4-4 SEC) finished the regular season with the nation’s toughest strength of schedule, according to FootballPerspective.com.

The Tigers played eight opponents currently or formerly ranked the top 15. Auburn finished 4-4 in those contests, with al four of those losses coming against teams ranked 13th or higher in the final regular season Associated Press Top 25.

Auburn played a team represented in the College Football Playoff in Alabama, and two other teams in the mix for New Year’s Six bowl berths in Mississippi State and Ole Miss.

The Tigers — which spent much of the first half of the season in the top five — could not survive the gauntlet, losing back-to-back games against Texas A&M and Georgia, sending Gus Malzahn’s team out of the playoff picture. Auburn coaches and players, while not making excuses, have admitted to the stress and difficulty of having to play successive top 15 teams, many of which occupy the same division as the Tigers.

The effects of its schedule did impact Auburn, however. Penalties, turnovers — signs of a lack of discipline — plagued the Tigers down the stretch. Two late turnovers cost Auburn in the loss to Texas A&M, while the lack of defense served as the Achilles Heel during the final six weeks.

The Tigers nine opponents that spent at least one week in the poll combined to win 69 games in 2014, all of which are bowl eligible.

Auburn has not yet been made aware of its bowl destination, where the Tigers could face its ninth ranked foe of the season.