Auburn has cleared one November test and now gets another road trip in SEC play, this time against a Mississippi State team that’s sliding fast.
The Bulldogs are 4-5 and coming off an ugly loss to Vanderbilt, which fits the larger trend. Mississippi State has dropped five straight and looks like a team that’s running out of answers as the season winds down. Auburn, meanwhile, is headed back into the state of Mississippi after losing by 30 points the last time it played there, though this matchup figures to be a different kind of challenge.
The biggest issue for Mississippi State is the absence of Kamario Taylor. The quarterback injured his toe in the Bulldogs’ 56-23 loss to Alabama on Oct. 3 and has appeared only once since then, briefly.
Before the injury, he was driving the offense and helping Mississippi State jump out to a 4-0 start. During that stretch, Taylor averaged 298 passing yards per game.
Even in the loss to Alabama, he still threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns.
Since Taylor went down, the offense has lost its punch. Over the last four games, Mississippi State is averaging 170 passing yards per game, 281.8 total yards per game and just 10.3 points per game. Three of those games came against strong SEC defenses, but the drop-off is still hard to ignore.
The defense has its own problems, and the pass coverage has been the most glaring. Mississippi State ranks last in the SEC in passing defense, allowing 251.1 passing yards per game overall and 261 per game in SEC play. The Bulldogs have also picked off only two passes all season, the fewest in the conference.
That gives Auburn a chance to do some damage through the air, even if passing isn’t one of its strengths. Byrum Brown may have his best shot yet at a breakout game as a passer in SEC play. Mississippi State also has major issues protecting the quarterback, which only adds to the pressure on both sides of the ball.
Auburn has given up a league-high 35 sacks, but Mississippi State isn’t far behind with 31 allowed. The Bulldogs have surrendered 17 sacks over their last four games.
And it hasn’t mattered who has been under center. Taylor, despite his mobility and feel for the game, was sacked 16 times in six appearances.
AJ Swann, who started last week and isn’t known for his mobility, was taken down three times by a Vanderbilt defense that’s only average to below average.
Auburn’s defense is coming off a strong showing against Arkansas, finishing with six sacks and 12 tackles for loss. If the Tigers bring that same aggression, Mississippi State’s offensive line could be in for another long afternoon.
In Other News...
Auburn Suddenly Faces A Playoff Shakeup Alex Golesh Downplayed
The College Football Playoff is headed for another major overhaul, with the field set to expand to 24 teams starting in 2027 and the current 12-team setup on the way out. The ripple effect has already reached the SEC, which announced it will drop its annual championship game beginning next season, a change that could alter how teams are judged, seeded and positioned in the months that matter most.
For Auburn, the news adds another layer to an already shifting postseason landscape, even if Alex Golesh kept his comments brief when asked about it at a press conference. He acknowledged the changes without offering much in the way of reaction, leaving plenty of room for the bigger question that now hangs over the league: how the new format and the end of the SEC title game will reshape the path to the playoff. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns New-Look Rotation Already Has Two Tough Problems To Solve
Auburns season opener against Southeastern Louisiana offered an early look at just how much turnover this roster is managing. Eight of the 10 players in the rotation were making their official team debuts, including Owen Freeman and Kolby King, and both newcomers were asked to jump in right away. Freeman is still working back from a foot injury, while King arrived after dealing with eligibility issues, but each still found a way to contribute in limited minutes as the Tigers began sorting out roles.
Steven Pearl made it clear the integration has been deliberate, not accidental, as Auburn tries to blend so many fresh faces into a workable rotation. The challenge now is less about identifying talent than figuring out how quickly all of those pieces can settle into place, especially with two players still navigating their own separate hurdles before this group can really show its full shape. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Gets One Last Tune-Up Before A Much Bigger Test
Auburn gets one more chance to settle in at Neville Arena on Monday night, when Appalachian State comes to town for a final tune-up before the schedule stiffens. Steven Pearl has already pointed to the Mountaineers defensive strengths and their depth, a reminder that this is not just a routine home date even if it comes before a much bigger test for the Tigers.
The game will air live on SEC Network and stream on Fubo, with radio coverage on the Auburn Sports Network for fans following along the old-fashioned way. For Auburn, the matchup is less about the spotlight and more about sharpening habits, getting the rotation into rhythm and making sure the details are cleaner before the next step up in competition. [Read more 🡒]