Byrum Brown was back in the national conversation after Auburn’s win over Georgia, but that stay didn’t last long.
CBS Sports had the Auburn quarterback on its Quarterback Power Rankings list after he helped knock off the No. 1 team in the country. Then came the blowout loss to LSU, and Brown slid right back out of the top 50.
The rise-and-fall arc has fit Brown’s season. He arrived at Auburn with a big reputation after what he did at USF last year, when he threw for more than 3,000 yards, ran for over 1,000, and piled up 42 total touchdowns - the second-most in football.
That production raised obvious questions about how his physical, run-heavy style would hold up in the SEC. So far, his Auburn run has been uneven but good enough to keep the Tigers moving at times, with a couple of standout performances and a few games that were much tougher on the eyes.
The Georgia game showed the best version of Brown. He passed for 150 yards and a touchdown, added a team-high 115 rushing yards, and scored on the ground as Auburn beat the No. 1 team in the country.
That was enough to get him noticed by CBS Sports. But the LSU outing did the opposite. Brown finished with 160 passing yards and only 21 rushing yards in the lopsided loss, and that wasn’t enough to hold onto a spot among the nation’s top quarterbacks.
There is one encouraging trend for Auburn: Brown seems to have tightened up the turnover issues that were hanging over his early-season play. He threw seven interceptions through five games, but he hasn’t thrown one since the bye week, giving him a two-game stretch without a turnover.
If he’s going to climb back into the rankings, Ole Miss may be the stage for it. Auburn is set to face the 12th-ranked Rebels this week, and the Rebels will be without Kewan Lacy, which could slow their offense and create more chances for Brown and Auburn.
Still, it probably won’t be enough for an ordinary game. Brown may need a huge passing night, or another 100-yard rushing performance with at least one touchdown through the air and one on the ground, to get back into the mix with college football’s best.
After the LSU loss, Auburn will be looking for a response anyway. And whatever his ranking says, Brown has already been one of the biggest reasons the Tigers have four wins this season.
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 🡒]