Auburn heads to Oxford on Saturday trying to put last weekend’s loss to LSU behind it, and the margin for error is thin. Alex Golesh’s Tigers have already shown they can land a punch, thanks to the upset over Georgia, but they’ll need a far cleaner performance across the board if they want another SEC road win against Ole Miss.
The challenge starts with the players who have to raise their level after the LSU setback. Auburn was beaten up in the trenches, struggled to move the ball on the ground, and had trouble containing LSU’s offense. Against Ole Miss, those issues have to disappear fast.
Byrum Brown is at the center of it all. The Auburn quarterback threw for just 160 yards against LSU, and the Tigers gave up seven sacks.
Brown has to get rid of the ball faster and avoid holding it too long. He may also find room to work with his legs, since Ole Miss has had issues defensively this season, especially against the run.
If Auburn is going to win, Brown will need one of his best outings.
Jeremiah Cobb is another player Auburn has to lean on. The running game barely showed up against LSU, as the Tigers managed only 67 rushing yards.
That sets up a clear opportunity against an Ole Miss defense that ranks last in the SEC in rushing defense and is giving up approximately 161 yards per game. Auburn needs Cobb to help establish the run early and keep the offense from becoming one-dimensional.
The same urgency applies to the defensive side, where Elijah Melendez will be asked to help slow Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. Auburn had trouble containing Sam Leavitt against LSU, and Chambliss presents another problem because of his ability to escape the pocket and pick up easy rushing yards. Melendez, a sophomore linebacker who has become one of the most important pieces in DJ Durkin’s defense and is named a captain every week, will be key in keeping that from happening.
Andre Jordan Jr. is another name Auburn can’t afford to overlook. Pro Football Focus says Jordan allowed 10 receptions on all 10 targets he defended, and Ole Miss brings a passing attack that can exploit that kind of struggle.
Deuce Alexander is coming off an eight-catch game against Texas last weekend and could create similar problems. Auburn needs Jordan to respond and help prevent another big day through the air.
Then there’s Cole Best, who has to help steady the offensive line after a rough night against LSU. Auburn allowed seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss, and that kind of protection breakdown cannot repeat.
Best remains the starting center, and the Tigers need him to clean up communication and execution up front. Auburn has to give Brown more time and open lanes for the ground game, because if Best and the line slip again, another upset becomes a much harder climb.
In Other News...
Pete Golding Just Framed Auburns Biggest Opening Against Ole Miss
Pete Golding spent the lead-up to Week 9 zeroing in on the problem Auburn has become for opposing defenses, and it starts with Byrum Brown. The Ole Miss head coach pointed to the Tigers veer-and-shoot look as a real test of spacing, stressing how Browns ability to threaten defenses as both a passer and a runner forces snap-by-snap answers from a defense trying to stay sound.
For Auburn, the interesting part is how much the matchup may hinge on whether Ole Miss can live in man coverage and still commit enough bodies to the box without getting burned elsewhere. Golding also framed the game as a major one for the Rebels College Football Playoff chase, which only adds to the tension in a conference where every edge matters and Auburns offense has a chance to make the entire discussion uncomfortable. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Faces A Major Test Against Ole Miss' Red-Hot Quarterback
Ole Miss comes into the matchup with a quarterback Auburn has plenty of reason to circle on the scouting report. Trinidad Chambliss has been one of the SECs most productive passers this season, leading the league in passing yards per game and total touchdowns while giving the Rebels a steady offensive pulse that has forced defenses to stay on their heels.
Auburn coach Alex Golesh singled out Chambliss footwork and composure in the pocket ahead of the game, a telling acknowledgment of how polished the challenge looks. For Auburns defense, the task is less about chasing raw numbers and more about finding a way to disrupt a quarterback who has been operating with confidence and control at the highest level of the conference. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Has A New Reason To Watch Tahaad Pettiford Closely
Auburn has another clear reason to keep a close eye on Tahaad Pettiford this fall, with the guard earning a spot on the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year preseason watch list. After emerging as one of the Tigers most productive backcourt pieces last season, Pettiford enters the new year with the kind of recognition that usually comes with bigger expectations.
He already has more than 1,000 career points and 258 assists through two seasons, and Auburn will lean on that experience as it tries to get back to the NCAA Tournament. Pettifords playmaking and scoring touch were central to Auburns NIT Championship run, and the Tigers are counting on him to be even more important if they want this next step to feel like a return rather than a rebuild. [Read more 🡒]