Dear War Eagle Nation,

Auburn’s 2017 season was filled with ups and downs. The high points — beating two No. 1 teams in November — made for lasting memories. The low points did too, though. Back-to-back losses to finish the year isn’t ending things on a high note.

The schedule isn’t set up to help ease the pain in 2018.

If Auburn can get past Washington in Week 1, the schedule sets up nicely for the next several weeks. But once October arrives, things are going to get a lot tougher — a lot tougher.

Gus Malzahn is entering his sixth season as the head coach. He has certainly had his moments, including a 12-2 debut season that came up just short of a national championship and last year’s near-climb to an SEC title and Playoff berth.

But in between, it hasn’t exactly been stellar for the former high school coach. It’s time for him to prove that the Tigers can be a consistent threat in the SEC West.

The good news? He has one of the country’s best quarterbacks to go with one of the nation’s top defensive front sevens.

Those two things alone can go a long way in a quest for a second consecutive SEC West title.

The strength of this team lies with its defensive line. Derrick Brown, Marlon Davidson and Dontavius Russell are known commodities. Nick Coe, Markaviest “Big Kat” Bryant and T.D. Moultry aren’t there yet, but they will be soon enough. It’s possible that all six end up on an NFL roster.

Then there’s the guy leading the offense.

Jarrett Stidham has the look of a future NFL quarterback. He has arm talent, poise and presence. Three things that can make any quarterback successful with the right weapons around him.

Even after injuries to Will Hastings and Eli Stove, the receiving unit still has talent and experience at the top.

Ryan Davis led the SEC with 84 receptions last season while Darius Slayton checked in at No. 3 in yards per catch (22.17). Mix in an emerging talent like Nate Craig-Myers (16 receptions, 285 yards, 3 TDs), and you have a collection of capable weapons for Stidham in the passing game.

Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

There’s also the eventual return of Stove, though his timetable is TBD. The slot receiver tied for second on the team in receptions (29) while converting those receptions into 265 yards.

One issue that could prevent a thriving offense is the guys up front. There’s talent but whether that talent can be developed into productive players remains to be seen.

Either way, the Tigers need that group to come together before they go to Starkville on Oct. 6. Like Auburn, Mississippi State has a vicious defensive line that includes elite talents such as Montez Sweat and Jeffery Simmons.

From there, the Tigers have two very manageable games — one at home (Tennessee) and other away (Ole Miss).

What follows that late October game against the Rebels is going to determine Auburn’s season, though, and shape how we view Malzahn’s ability to win it all. There might not be a team with a tougher November schedule than the Tigers.

First, a home game against an improved Texas A&M that will be led by new coach Jimbo Fisher. Then, it’s playing the consensus top two teams in the SEC in two of the last three weeks of the regular season — both on the road.

Georgia already gained revenge by winning the SEC Championship Game. Alabama, on the other hand, has not. During Media Days, Damien Harris said he’s still mad the Tide lost to Auburn.

During the Nick Saban era, only one team has beat the Crimson Tide in consecutive seasons — Ole Miss in 2014 and 2015.

Can the Tigers become the second team to achieve that feat? Absolutely, but it’s going to have to be in a hostile environment.

One thing working in Auburn’s favor is the strength of the offense, and how that strength matches up with Alabama’s biggest weakness defensively.

The Tide are replacing their entire secondary. To make matters worse, they also just lost one of their best pass rushers with the season-ending injury to Terrell Lewis.

This, of course, sets up nicely for Auburn.

As we mentioned before, the Tigers should have one of the conference’s top passing attacks. Alabama’s young defensive backs will have plenty of experience by the time Auburn rolls into town, but the chance for an advantage is still there for the taking — as long as the offensive line can hold up.

All in all, Malzahn finally got his second 10-win season in 2017. That’s great, but it’s still not enough, not when Saban just added his fifth national title at Alabama. Malzahn was just handed a contract extension, and it’s time for him to prove that the double-digit wins aren’t a rarity.

Texas A&M is on the rise under Fisher, Mississippi State isn’t far behind with Joe Moorhead now in Starkville and Saban isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Not only can Auburn not afford to go in the wrong direction, they can’t afford to stay where they’re at. The Tigers have to continue to show that they’re improving on a consistent basis.