Auburn gets Arkansas in another early kickoff, and this one feels like a chance to reset the tone after two straight ugly losses. The Tigers need the Razorbacks to be the fix for what’s gone wrong, because the pressure around the program is already loud and another setback would only turn up the heat.
The first place Auburn has to clean things up is on the ground. The run game has been stuck in neutral for most of the season, and that has fed a string of quick three-and-outs that have left the defense carrying too much of the load.
Alex Golesh said earlier in the week that the staff is still searching for answers up front, even while praising the offensive line for being able to sustain longer drives. The tackles for loss still have to be addressed, but this group has probably been the most effective unit Auburn has put out there.
This feels like a week where the Tigers could finally build something real around that side of the offense, especially if the play calling looks different.
That’s where the defense comes in, and Auburn cannot afford a repeat of what happened after three solid quarters last week. Once Trinidad Chambliss scored on the ground, everything unraveled.
That kind of collapse can’t happen again against KJ Jackson and an Arkansas offense that has some real pieces to work with. Ryan Silverfield has a dangerous target in Antonio Jordan, the emerging underclassman receiver who stands 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds.
He’s a matchup problem for any secondary, and Auburn will have to deal with his size and athleticism without Silvester Smith-Reed and Andre Jordan Jr., who are still injured. Champ Anthony may be asked to take on that challenge.
And beyond the matchup details, Auburn simply needs to feel better about itself by the end of the day. Golesh talked in his press conference about a quitting statement, pointing to the way his team faded against Ole Miss after Chambliss’s touchdown.
The defense looked lost, the offense couldn’t answer, and Byrum Brown kept getting forced into a passing game that leaned heavily on screen throws. Brown still hasn’t reached 200 passing yards for a fifth straight week, and another game like that would only make the confidence issue worse.
If Auburn can keep this one from turning into a fourth-quarter scramble, the Tigers have a chance to leave with something more than just a win. A clean performance could matter a lot as they try to push toward 8-4.
But for now, this has to be treated like a serious test. A good win here could set the tone for the rest of the season.
In Other News...
Auburn Win Suddenly Put One Offensive Decision Under The Microscope
Auburns 26-23 win over Arkansas should have been a clean celebration, but instead it opened a fresh conversation about how the offense is being run. Head coach Alex Golesh did not hide his frustration with the staffs play calling in the first half, even as he singled out quarterback Byrum Brown for the way he battled through the game. Browns performance had enough grit and toughness to help Auburn get the result it needed, but the way the offense got there left plenty of room for scrutiny.
Now the attention shifts to the structure behind the calls, with speculation already building around whether offensive coordinator Joel Gordons role could change. Auburn got the win, but the postgame tone made clear this was not the kind of offensive performance Golesh wants to keep living with. For a team trying to build momentum, the bigger question is whether the staffs answer is a tweak, a reset, or something more significant. [Read more 🡒]
Byrum Brown Covered Up An Auburn Problem Fans Still Can't Ignore
Auburn got out of Arkansas with a 26-23 win, but the way it got there left plenty of familiar concerns hanging around. The Tigers leaned on Byrum Brown to help spark the running game after a rough first half on offense, and the defense did enough to keep the game within reach, including six sacks that put real pressure on the Razorbacks.
Byrum Browns impact helped cover up an offense that still looked uneven up front, and the protection issues were hard to miss even in a victory. The pass rush gave Auburn a lift, but the secondary also had stretches that will keep coaches busy, which is why a win like this can still feel like a reminder of how much work remains. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Finally Showed A Pulse But One Concern Isn't Going Away
Auburns 26-23 win over Arkansas offered a much-needed jolt, both for a team that had been searching for traction and for an offense that finally found a better rhythm after a slow start. The Tigers are now 5-4 overall and 3-4 in the SEC, and while the early struggles were real, the second half brought enough improvement to suggest there is still something to work with as the season moves deeper into November.
The defense did its part in keeping Auburn afloat, holding Arkansas to 23 points even while giving up 179 rushing yards, and freshman linebacker Shadarius Toodle stood out with a disruptive performance that included 11 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. Still, the run defense remains the concern that wont go away, and it is the kind of issue that could keep this team from turning one encouraging result into a real run of momentum. [Read more 🡒]