Harsin set to make Auburn debut against heavy underdog Akron

Published Sep. 2, 2021 11:02 a.m. ET

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Bryan Harsin's first game as Auburn's coach comes against a team that just suffered through a 21-game losing streak. The next opponent is an FCS team.

Harsin should be able to ease into his Southeastern Conference tenure Saturday night against

The former Boise State coach is more concerned about how his team handles the typical first-game mistakes and issues than his own debut.

“The excitement really is the week of prep leading into the game, and then once we get to Saturday, it’s just letting these guys kind of loose and go play,” Harsin said. "That’s the fun part.

“That’s the opportunity for all the work that our players have put in, that our coaches have put in to go out there for four hours and just cut it loose and know it’s not going to be perfect. We don’t expect that.”

Harsin, who returned to the office Monday from a

Harsin also appears to get a relatively easy path to his first big Auburn test, Sept. 18 at No. 19 Penn State.

The Zips went 1-5 in a COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, snapping a 21-game losing streak against Bowling Green before dropping the finale. That gave coach Tom Arth his lone win in a 1-17 start.

That team didn't play in front of any fans in its last four games because of COVID-19 restrictions. Now, the Zips visit 87,451-seat Jordan-Hare Stadium, which is now

“Going from zero to 100 pretty quickly, just playing in that type of environment, is going to be a very positive experience for our team,” Arth said.

BO'S BACK

Nix is operating under his third offensive coordinator in as many seasons, with Mike Bobo taking the reins. It will be a change-up from Malzahn's hurry-up, spread-like offense.

“I’ve got a lot of experience the past few years, I’ve seen a lot of looks, and I like how our schemes are going to fit those looks,” Nix said.

NEW RECEIVERS Georgia transfer Demetris Robertson brings a little seasoning to an inexperienced group of Auburn receivers. The Tigers lost their top three wide receivers from last season, and don't return any that caught more than seven passes. Along with Robertson, senior Shedrick Jackson and sophomore Ja'Varrious Johnson won first-team spots.

ZIP ON QBS

Arth isn’t dropping hints on his starting quarterback. Zach Gibson started last season, passing for 784 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions in six games. Sixth-year senior Kato Nelson started 26 games from 2017-19 but sat out last season after shoulder surgery. He’s fifth in program history in passing yards (5,138) and total offense (5,760).

“We haven’t made that determination yet,” Arth said. “We feel that we have a number of really capable quarterbacks.”

TRANSFERS

Both teams should get immediate impacts from transfers. Akron has former Michigan State running back Anthony Williams and ex-Michigan safety Jaylen Kelly-Powell. Auburn lists transfers Tony Fair (UAB) and Marcus Harris (Kansas) as starters on the defensive line.

BRANDON COUNCIL

Brandon Council was a three-year starter for Akron, starting every position on the offensive line except right guard. That's where he opened last season as a graduate transfer for the Tigers before his season ended with a knee injury. Council is vying with Alec Jackson to start at left guard.

“He’s told us all about their personnel and stuff,” Auburn center Nick Brahms said. “He’s got a little insight into that. He’s excited to do it. I know he is. We’ve talked about it, for sure. He’s looking forward to getting out there.”

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Bo Nix

Shedrick Jackson

Nick Brahms

Zach Gibson

Kato Nelson

Akron Zips

Boise State Broncos

Auburn Tigers