This Saturday, the Auburn Tigers will face a team that went 10-2 last season and is expected to repeat as conference champion and make the playoffs. That’s the Ohio Valley Conference and the FCS playoffs, of course.

Without a doubt, the Jacksonville State Gamecocks should be the easiest opponent on Auburn’s schedule this year. If you want to bet on the game, you won’t find a line in Las Vegas, at least until hours before kickoff. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some interesting story lines to follow for what should be a pre-SEC tuneup for the Tigers.

Gamecocks coach John Grass, in his second year, is a young, up-and-coming former high school coach known for high-powered offenses that strike quickly. Sound familiar, Tigers?

Jacksonville State returns seven starters on defense, including Auburn transfers DT Devaunte Sigler and LB/DE Chris Landrum. A couple of transfers should not be enough to make up the talent gap between the two teams, but Auburn QB Jeremy Johnson might actually be challenged by the Jacksonville State defense. JSU co-defensive coordinator Brandon Hall should know the Auburn offense inside and out — he was an assistant to Auburn coach Gus Malzahn at both Arkansas State (linebackers) and Auburn (support staff).

The Gamecocks certainly won’t lack motivation to play well in front of the crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium. JSU heavily recruits the state of Alabama (6o players on current roster) and has become a popular landing spot for SEC transfers. Adding fuel to the fire, four Gamecocks assistants are Alabama alumni.

Hopes of pulling off the unthinkable on the Plains aren’t completely unfounded for JSU. The Gamecocks have beaten an SEC team this decade, topping Ole Miss 49-48 (2 OT) in 2010. Since defeating the Rebels, however, Jacksonville State has fallen to their three most recent FBS opponents.

One recently-hired Auburn assistant knows from experience to never take an FCS opponent lightly — even at home.

JACKSONVILLE GAMECOCKS CLOSER LOOK

Top returning player, offense: Eli Jenkins, R-Jr., QB — A dual-threat QB, Jenkins appeared in all 12 games last season as a sophomore, throwing for 1,870 yards with a 57.2 completion percentage and 12-9 touchdown to interception ratio. On the ground, Jenkins rushed for 698 yards on 132 attempts, racking up six touchdowns.

Top returning player, defense: Devaunte Sigler, DT, Sr. — Sigler is the reigning OVC Defensive Player of the Year after recording 36 tackles including 3.5 sacks and 9 tackles for loss. The Auburn transfer is a preseason favorite to repeat.

Top returning player, special teams: Connor Rouleau, K, R-So. — As the placekicker, Rouleau led all Gamecocks in scoring with 86 points last season.