Auburn’s matchup with Ole Miss on Oct. 21, 2023, delivered plenty of action before the Mississippi Rebels left Jordan-Hare Stadium with a 28-21 victory.
The Tigers got early production from Jarquez Hunter, who powered in for a touchdown run in the first quarter. Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne also had his moments moving the offense, including a first-quarter run for extra yards and several passing plays as the Tigers tried to keep pace.
Ole Miss answered with its own playmakers. Jaxson Dart was active as a runner, while Quinshon Judkins and the Rebels’ offense did enough to hold control of the game. One of the tougher Auburn moments came in the third quarter, when Mississippi wide receiver Tre Harris had a catch broken up by Auburn cornerback Keionte Scott.
Auburn’s passing game had some difficult stretches, including a dropped pass over the middle by Jay Fair. Robby Ashford also appeared in the running game, adding another dimension for the Tigers, but it wasn’t enough to swing the result.
The game also featured sideline tension during the second quarter, when Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze spoke with game officials while a play was reviewed. Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin also talked to an official during the same period.
Special teams and pregame activity were part of the scene as well, with Auburn punter Oscar Chapman on the field at Jordan-Hare Stadium and kicker Alex McPherson warming up before kickoff.
After the final whistle, Hunter and Judkins shook hands, and Freeze and Kiffin did the same as Ole Miss wrapped up the 28-21 win.
In Other News...
Lane Kiffin Made A Serious Auburn Accusation After LSU Win
The aftermath of LSUs win at Auburn carried an extra layer of scrutiny after Lane Kiffin said he believed Tigers defenders were trying to use a hip-drop tackle on LSU tight end TreyDez Green. Green, who had just returned from a lower-body injury, was active throughout the game and made his presence felt with five catches for 50 yards and a touchdown, but the contact he absorbed clearly became part of the story once the game was over.
Hip-drop tackles have already been banned by the NFL because of the injury risk involved, which is why Kiffins comment drew immediate attention beyond the usual postgame noise. Greens workload tapered off late, and the concern around his usage added another wrinkle to a physical night in Auburn that LSU was happy to survive, even if the conversation afterward drifted well past the final score. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffin Just Dragged Auburn Into A Bigger Postgame Debate
Lane Kiffin turned a routine postgame conversation into something bigger when he singled out Auburns defenders for using hip-drop tackles against LSU tight end Treyd ez Green. Green was taken out of the game amid concerns about those tackles, a technique still not banned in college football, and Kiffins comments pushed the focus beyond the final score and into the way the game was being played.
The more interesting part for Auburn is how Kiffin framed the late-game choices from his own sideline, too. He said he put starting defenders back in despite the injury risk, pointing to player requests and the kind of mentality he wanted from his team, which only added another layer to the debate over where toughness ends and unnecessary danger begins. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns LSU Collapse Put One Alex Golesh Question Front And Center
Alex Golesh didnt try to soften the blow after Auburns 38-17 loss to LSU, putting the offensive problems squarely on his own shoulders. He said the game plan wasnt effective and pointed to missed tackles on defense as part of a night in which Auburn gave up 552 total yards while finishing with just 271 of its own.
The broader concern now is whether the Tigers can clean up enough in a hurry before a road trip to Ole Miss. Auburn managed only 67 rushing yards against LSU, and Golesh made it clear the fix has to come through better strategy and sharper execution, two things the Tigers will need if they want to avoid another lopsided result. [Read more 🡒]