After the 2022 season, Auburn turned to Hugh Freeze to try to rescue its historically successful football program from a recent rut.

How the Tigers fare in his second season at the helm will have a sizable say in whether those goals are eventually realized.

That work will begin this weekend, when Auburn opens its 2024 season with a game against Alabama A&M at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Watch Auburn football vs. Alabama A&M with ESPN+

The Tigers showed signs of progress in their first season under Freeze, improving by one win from the 2022 season and making a bowl game. Their season very nearly reached a much more satisfying conclusion, but they gave up a 31-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Milroe on fourth-and-goal with 32 seconds remaining in a 27-24 loss to Alabama that was one of the more memorable Iron Bowls in recent memory.

Under the direction of Freeze, the former Ole Miss and Liberty coach, Auburn improved marginally offensively last season, increasing its scoring average from 24.8 points per game to 26.2. With several key returning starters, including quarterback Payton Thorne and running back Jarquez Hunter, the Tigers will look to take several more steps under its offensively minded coach.

The first of those will come against Alabama A&M, a historically Black university in Huntsville that has produced future NFL stars like John Stallworth and Robert Mathis over the course of the program’s history. It finished 5-6 last season, which included a 3-5 mark in the SWAC.

Here's everything you need to know about the game, including time, date, TV and streaming info, and more:

REQUIRED READING: Auburn football vs. Alabama A&M: Scouting report on the Bulldogs, score prediction for season opener

What channel is Auburn football vs Alabama A&M on today?

• Streaming: SEC Network +/ESPN+

Auburn’s game against Alabama A&M will not air on traditional linear television.

Rather, it will be stream online exclusively on ESPN+ and SEC Network +. Lowell Galindo (play-by-play) and Fozzy Whittaker (analyst) will be on the call.

Auburn football vs Alabama A&M time today

• Start time: 6:30 p.m. CT

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 31

The Tigers and Bulldogs are scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday from Jordan-Hare Stadium.

REQUIRED READING: Auburn football 2024 game day: How Jordan-Hare renovations will affect fans on Saturdays

Auburn vs Alabama A&M predictions, picks, odds

PickDawgz: Auburn wins, doesn't cover

Andrew Jett writes: "I’m going to stay with Auburn, but the line's way too hefty to mess with. The Tigers definitely have their work cut out for them after three straight losing seasons—a stat which hadn’t occurred since the 1970s. There’s reason to be optimistic about Auburn though, even with the roster turnover. RB Jarquez Hunter should be a star once again, as should true freshman receiver Cam Coleman."

College Football News: Auburn wins

"After the three-game losing streak to end last year, Auburn will come out ripping it up a bit to set the tone for the season. Alabama A&M will come up with a few takeaways, but it won’t matter much - it’ll be a struggle to put points on the board."

Auburn football schedule 2024

Here’s Auburn’s full 2024 football schedule:

All times Central.

• Saturday, Aug. 31: vs. Alabama A&M | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN+, SEC Network +

• Saturday, Sept. 7: vs. Cal | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)

• Saturday, Sept. 14: vs. New Mexico | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN2, ESPNU (Fubo)

• Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. Arkansas*

• Saturday, Oct. 5: at No. 1 Georgia*

• Saturday, Oct. 12: BYE

• Saturday, Oct. 19: at No. 11 Missouri*

• Saturday, Oct. 26: at Kentucky*

• Saturday, Nov. 2: vs. Vanderbilt*

• Saturday, Nov. 9: BYE

• Saturday, Nov. 16: vs. Louisiana-Monroe | 11:45 a.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)

• Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. No. 20 Texas A&M*

• Saturday, Nov. 30: at No. 5 Alabama*

* SEC game

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This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn vs Alabama A&M channel today, time, TV schedule, streaming info