The challenge only gets steeper for Auburn after a 38-17 loss to LSU, and now the Tigers have to deal with another top-20 opponent in Ole Miss.
The Rebels come into the matchup after a tight road loss to Texas, and they’ll have Auburn at home before a massive game against Georgia. As of Sunday evening, Ole Miss was a 13-point favorite over Auburn, according to BetMGM. For the Tigers to spring another road upset, they’ll need a huge performance against one of the SEC’s most dangerous teams.
The headliner is quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who has been one of the defining players in the conference this season. He entered the year as a Heisman Trophy frontrunner and still has a path to the award.
In his second season as Ole Miss’ starter, Chambliss is the engine of the offense. He’s third in the SEC with 1,926 passing yards and leads the league in passing yards per game.
He’s not used much on designed runs, but he remains one of the country’s most athletic and elusive quarterbacks. At 6 feet, he’s undersized by NFL standards, yet he’s tough to finish off.
That mobility has helped Ole Miss allow just five sacks, the fewest in the SEC and the sixth-fewest in the country.
That creates a major test for Auburn’s defense, especially after surrendering 387 passing yards to LSU’s Sam Leavitt.
The Rebels’ defense, meanwhile, has been the softer side of the football despite Pete Golding’s promotion from defensive coordinator to head coach this offseason. Ole Miss is giving up 394.1 yards of total offense per game, second most in the SEC behind Auburn’s 396.9.
The run defense has been the biggest problem. Through seven games, the Rebels are allowing 161.1 rushing yards per game, worst in the SEC.
Texas pushed that group for 207 rushing yards on Saturday, even though the Longhorns rank just 13th in the league in rushing yards per game.
The pass rush has also lagged. Ole Miss has only 13 sacks and does not have a player with more than 16 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
Still, the front isn’t without a difference-maker. Interior defensive lineman Will Echoles is arguably the Rebels’ top talent up front and could create problems for Cole Best and Auburn’s interior offensive line.
Against the pass, Ole Miss has been a little better than it has against the run, giving up 233 yards per game. The bigger issue has been chunk plays: the Rebels have allowed 27 passes of 20 yards or more, tied with Mississippi State for the most in the SEC.
Ole Miss also has four former Auburn players on its roster, including three who were with the Tigers last season. Horatio Fields, Jalyn Crawford and Antonio Kite are all either starters or significant contributors, while Deuce Knight is the backup quarterback behind Chambliss.
Fields and Crawford both started for Auburn last year before Fields’ season-ending injury, and both made noise against Texas. Crawford bounced in and out of the starting lineup earlier this season, but he came up with two interceptions against the Longhorns.
Fields finished with three catches for 50 yards, and two of them went for touchdowns. He has become a reliable contested-catch option, hauling in four of nine such targets this season, according to Pro Football Focus.
In Other News...
Auburn Walks Into A Huge SEC Test With Ole Miss Suddenly Shorthanded
Auburns trip to Oxford brings a notable SEC matchup back into view, with the Tigers and Ole Miss meeting for the first time in three years. The timing matters for both sides, too, because Auburn is trying to build on a win over Georgia after a loss to LSU, while Ole Miss is navigating a change in its backfield heading into a game that already carries plenty of weight.
Kewan Lacy will be unavailable for the Rebels after suffering a dislocated shoulder against Texas, leaving Ole Miss with a hole it has to fill against an Auburn defense that will be keyed on Trinidad Chambliss. The Rebels quarterback has piled up 1,926 passing yards this season, so even with the backfield shorthanded, Auburn still has to deal with the part of the Ole Miss offense that can tilt the game fastest. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Could Be Getting A Needed O-Line Boost At The Right Time
Auburns offensive line might be getting some timely help as the season wears on, with head coach Alex Golesh saying sophomore Tai Buster could return to practice and play within a few weeks. Buster has been sidelined by a preseason injury, but he has stayed involved with the team during his recovery, keeping himself in the mix even while hes been unable to get back on the field.
For a line that always benefits from added depth, especially as the schedule tightens, Busters eventual return would give Auburn another option at a spot where bodies matter. He will miss the upcoming game against Ole Miss, but the possibility of getting him back later in the season gives the Tigers something worth watching beyond just the next matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns International Signee Saga Ends With Bigger Questions For The Program
Mantas Rubstavicius will not suit up for Auburn basketball this season after voluntarily dismissing his eligibility lawsuit against the NCAA, ending one of the more unusual roster stories the program has dealt with in recent months. The international signee is now expected to pursue a basketball opportunity in Europe, and he thanked Auburns administration, coach and teammates as the path with the Tigers came to a close.
The bigger issue for Auburn, though, may be what happens around the decision rather than the decision itself. The school also confirmed that general manager Brian Kloman was fired, with reports indicating the move stemmed from a failure to disclose Rubstavicius prior college enrollment overseas, leaving the program to sort through how such a significant oversight occurred in the first place. [Read more 🡒]