ATLANTA -- It's officially the offseason at Auburn.

Final evaluations of the Tigers' 15 spring practices under coach Gus Malzahn have been completed. Players have met with their coaches, discussed their futures and what lies ahead as the spring semester ends and the summer months begin.

Assistant coaches have hit the road recruiting players, and they're doing the same at several speaking engagements inside and outside the state.

Malzahn has even started breaking down of the Tigers' first opponent: Washington State.

"I have watched a little bit of our opponents' film," Malzahn said Thursday at the SEC Network announcement in Atlanta. "There will be more time in the month of May and June that we'll specifically do that more. To be honest with you, up until about three days ago we were wrapping up our spring, meeting with our players and exit meetings and giving our evaluations."

Auburn and Washington State hook up at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Aug. 31. The game will feature two of the fastest offenses in the country, and it's sure to spark some interest on the national level as Mike Leach enters his second year as the Cougars' coach and the Malzahn era begins on the Plains.

Malzahn says he is so focused on next season and also hasn't given much thought to the increasing chatter of the SEC potentially moving to a nine-game SEC schedule.

"To be honest with you right now, I'm just focused on year by year," he said. "We've got our hands full with next year and we'll have discussions with the SEC commissioner and all that. Right now our focus is on next year."

Auburn president Jay Gogue says he supports a nine-game schedule, and is sure discussions will increase at the SEC spring meetings in Destin, Fla., later this month. Until then, not much else can or will happen.

"I think it will be discussed every year for a few years until there is either resolution that we go to that or we stay where we are," Gogue said.

Malzahn is scheduled to speak at eight Tiger Trek events this summer, starting Tuesday in Huntsville.

His message?

"To get out our message of it's a new day," Malzahn said. "To get our assistant coaches to meet people. I'm looking forward to meeting people also, so we're all excited about that."

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