It makes sense to consider Auburn an afterthought in the Southeastern Conference.

After all, the Tigers have endured four consecutive losing seasons — their longest such skid in nearly eight decades — and failed to find much consistency since Tommy Tuberville’s heyday 20 years ago.

They won the national title with coach Gene Chizik and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Cam Newton in 2010, then lost 14 games over the next two years. They advanced to the championship game under coach Gus Malzahn in 2013, then delivered a string of mediocrity that essentially turned the Plains into a wasteland.

But now, after years of angst, there’s a growing belief that Auburn is on the verge of a turnaround under third-year coach Hugh Freeze . It begins with a new, highly touted quarterback , one of

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