Auburn Spring Game 2017: Date, Start Time, TV Schedule, Live Stream and More

A-Day 2017 might just be the most interesting college football spring game of the year. 

The Auburn Tigers have a fresh feel about them while returning 18 starters from a Sugar Bowl appearance and getting some fresh blood under center.

One year ago, the Gus Malzahn era had its lowest attendance on record at A-Day, coming in at 45,723, according to SECCountry's Justin Ferguson. Given the positive upswing, Auburn fans figure to ensure the program doesn't have a repeat performance.

Armed with options at quarterback and the talent to fill critical roles, Saturday's spring game is an important landmark for the program that fans won't want to miss.

2017 Auburn Spring Game

When:  Saturday, April 8, at 2 p.m. ET

Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium

TV: SEC Network

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Starting on the offensive side of the ball with new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey and the quarterback spot—it's where most of the headlines after Saturday will focus.

Lindsey spent last year with the Arizona Sun Devils and is tasked with fixing Malzahn's offense, which ranked last in the SEC in passing yards per game last year.

The arrival of Baylor transfer Jarrett Stidham should help. He's facing competition from freshman Woody Barrett and Malik Willis, but Stidham and Lindsey have already seemed to hit it off well.

"Some of the similarities that [Lindsey] has with what I’ve done at Baylor—some of the deeper passing game—it’s been a lot of fun," Stidham said, according to ESPN.com's Greg Ostendorf. "And a lot of it, I’ve done before. It's kind of second nature."

An uptick in vertical passing is the next logical step and the duo seems ready to make it happen. The problem might be the weapons around Stidham given the fact Auburn only has one upperclassman wideout with more than 20 career receptions. Add in the fact multiple projected starting receivers have missed time this spring, and one can begin to see why Saturday is so important. 

It's the same story for the defensive side of the ball. The unit lost big names such as Carl Lawson and Montravius Adams, two major pieces of a potent pass-rushing unit. Household name Byron Cowart has yet to live up to the hype going into his third season.

Cowart, of course, is the spotlight feature in the spring game as he undergoes a transition along the defensive line. After struggling to take the field and dealing with an injury last year, it's now-or-never mode for both Cowart and Auburn.

His teammates see a new Cowart after a position change. Linebacker Darrell Williams is one of many to see an immediate difference this spring, as he told Ostendorf.

“Moving from end to tackle, that’s going to cause a lot of mismatches on the inside. I feel a lot of that—playing with more swag—is coming from him feeling a little better as far as playing on the field. I feel like that’s where it’s coming from. He feels good while he’s playing,” Williams said.

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Cowart will need to have a big year to help make up for losses all along the unit. Other than big-name rushers, the defense lost quality defensive backs in Joshua Holsey and Jonathan Ford.

Call the new-look offense one half of a symbiotic relationship, though, as the pass-minded approach by Stidham has the defense adapting.

Safety Nick Ruffin talked with AL.com's James Crepea about the difference: "We get more looks. We get more routes, we get more work as opposed just coming down or running and hitting people all day. It definitely helps us. We get to learn, work on our technique work, work on more of a variation of calls because they are passing more."

As is the case for almost any team, much has to go right over the course of a full season to match expectations. These Tigers, though, certainly have the proper upward momentum after a bit of reshuffling in terms of approach and player fits.

Already competing well in the SEC, 2017 could be much more than a building year for the program if the adjustments go through well. Meaning, A-Day has plenty of meaning and fans shouldn't want to skip.

Stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified. Broadcast and spring game info via AuburnTigers.com.