Tag: Auburn Tigers football

Ranking every SEC Bowl game from best to worst

The 2023 SEC Bowl season is just around the corner, and while only Alabama is in the CFB Playoffs, plenty of exciting matchups are ahead.

The 2023 college football regular season has ended, as the historic Army vs. Navy matchup will conclude the final season ahead of the many changes to come in 2024, including the first year of the 12-team playoff structure.

Focusing on the SEC, I guess you can say it’s been a down year for the conference. Alabama is the only representative in the College Football Playoffs set to face Michigan in the Rose Bowl Semifinal on New Year’s Day. At the same time, Georgia, who finished the regular season with an undefeated record, fell to the Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship to miss out on the playoffs for the first in two seasons after winning consecutive National Titles.

For Texas A&M, new football head coach Mike Elko brings a new vision to Aggie Football after six years of Jimbo Fisher at the helm. While the transfer portal has taken its toll on the roster, the future is still bright, but questions regarding who will play in the TexAct Texas Bowl vs. Oklahoma State.

However, LSU star quarterback Jayden Daniels is poised to win the Heisman Trophy after accounting for 4,946 yards and 50 touchdowns on the year. If it weren’t for the anemic Tigers’ defense, we’d probably be talking about an LSU team competing for a championship at year’s end.

9 out of 14 SEC teams will play in a bowl game this year, and yes, that’s an impressive feat in one of the most competitive conferences around. Here is a list of the most and least watchable SEC bowl games ahead of the always-entertaining yearly festivities.

Insider predicts Texas A&M 2024 WR commit Cam Coleman will flip to fellow SEC program

Post-Jimbo Fisher’s firing, one recruiting insider has predicted that 2024 5-Star WR Cam Coleman will Flip to the Auburn Tigers.

Well, recruiting news was expected after the firing of Jimbo Fisher as Texas A&M‘s head football coach. The move will cause a shift in any recruiting momentum until his successor is named.

Interim head coach Elijah Robinson, a man beloved by the team, coaching staff and nearly every prospect he has come in contact with, has seamlessly taken over the position with two games remaining, including Saturday’s season-finale road battle with the 14th-ranked LSU Tigers.

So, going back to the Aggies’ current recruiting landscape, a host of 2024 commits have stated they may look at other options but remain committed to the program as of now. However, since Fisher’s dismissal, A&M’s prized 2024 commit, five-star wide receiver Cam Coleman, has been quiet.

According to Florida State insider Michael Langston, Coleman is predicted to flip to Auburn, the program he had been connected to for most of the summer before his July 4 announcement.

What’s interesting was the timing of this prediction. It came just hours after Auburn, under first-year head coach, hosted New Mexico State in the annual “cupcake matchup.” Instead, the Aggies (9-3) dominated the Tigers up and down the field, winning 31-10 while raking in millions in the process.

Look, Coleman’s relationship with Fisher, as with many of the 2024 recruits, looms large in their decision process moving forward. Until Fisher’s successor is named in possibly the next two weeks, Coleman’s future in the Aggieland, like it or not, is up in the air.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Big 12 Bowl Projections: Sooners face Utes in latest from USA TODAY Sports

After two straight losses, the Sooners are headed to the Alamo Bowl in latest USA TODAY Sports bowl projections.

The Oklahoma Sooners have had a good year. In the midst of a two-game losing streak, that may not be the thing we want to talk about, but they’ve been good. Good enough to get to the College Football Playoff? No. To make the Big 12 title game? That’s not completely off the table.

They’ve made improvements on the defensive side of the ball, in particular, that provide enough encouragement that this program is heading in the right direction. In 2022, the Sooners allowed their opponents to score more than 30 points seven times. In 2023, that’s only happened twice.

The Sooners still have a lot to play for. Drake Stoops, a player who’s become synonymous with “OUDNA,” said as much when he met with the media.

With three games remaining, the Sooners have a chance to make a statement. They can show off the resiliency that’s been a characteristic of this team in 2023. And in those three games, continue to make strides as a football program.

As for where their postseason fate lies, here’s where Big 12 programs are headed in the latest bowl projections from USA TODAY Sports.

TV, commentators set for Georgia-Auburn game

The Georgia Bulldogs play the Auburn Tigers at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 30

The Georgia Bulldogs (4-0) play their first road game in 2023 when the Dawgs travel to face the Auburn Tigers (3-1). Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 30. The game will be televised on CBS.

The TV commentators for the Georgia-Auburn game are Gary Danielson (analyst), Jenny Dell (sideline) and Brad Nessler (play-by-play).

Georgia defeated Auburn in Athens, Georgia, 42-10, during the 2022 college football season. The Dawgs have won six straight games against Auburn including two consecutive games at Auburn.

Last week, Georgia hosted the UAB Blazers. The Bulldogs looked sharp on offense a week ago when they defeated UAB, 49-21. Auburn lost 27-10 at Texas A&M in Week 4. The Tigers mustered three offensive points against Texas A&M.

Auburn’s quarterback play and passing game are major concerns for the Tigers entering the Georgia game. Auburn has not finished with a 100-yard passer against a Power Five opponent since Oct. 29, 2022.

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Week 5 is expected to be Georgia quarterback Carson Beck’s first career road start. Georgia has been preparing for the game using crowd noise, but it is hard to replicate the rowdy environment of Jordan-Hare Stadium in practice.

Texas A&M’s ferocious pass rush against the Auburn Tigers can, and needs to be sustained

Texas A&M’s defense completed dominated the visiting Auburn Tigers on Saturday, while their notable pass rush finally found life.

Texas A&M defensive coordinator D.J Durkin has rightfully been under fire through the first three games this season after the Aggie’s 48-33 loss to Miami in Week 2, plagued by one of the worst defensive efforts witnessed from the program in quite some time.

However, minor improvements were made after defeating UL Monroe 47-3 in Week 3, leading to Saturday’s defensive explosion that none of us saw coming in Texas A&M’s rousing 27-10 victory over the visiting Auburn Tigers to open SEC play.

While starting quarterback Conner Weigman’s ankle injury (X-rays were negative) has taken most of the attention away from the big win, the Aggies suffocating pass rush and “bend but don’t break” defensive approach yielded seven sacks (most since 2017), 15 tackles for loss, while allowing only 54 yards through the air from three Auburn quarterbacks, while wreaking absolute havoc on veteran signal-caller Peyton Thorne on every possession.

Texas A&M’s sudden surge on the defensive line isn’t a mystery, as Durkin’s willingness to change up his scheme and blitz at a high rate paid off, utilizing the incredible athletes in the trenches. At the same time, the linebacker duo of Edgerrin Cooper and freshman Taurean York led the team in tackles and set the defensive tone from start to finish, according to star defensive back Byce Anderson.

“We have a crazy defensive line. (Taurean) York and (Edgerrin) Cooper played great… Today was a collective effort.”

Cooper, who recorded eight tackles and led the team with two sacks, was second to York’s game-high 11 tackles, and two tackles for loss have vaulted him in the discussion for one of the top freshmen in the country. They will only continue to develop throughout the SEC slate.

“Auburn is not the main goal. The main goal is to run through the SEC… This is a step along the way.”

With nine players recording three or more tackles on the afternoon, this was definitely a collective effort, but asking, “Is this sustainable?” may keep Aggie fans on their toes, especially with the high-scoring Arkansas Razorbacks coming to Arlington, Texas next Saturday.

Simple answer? Maybe, but the results against the Tigers are certainly encouraging, and to keep Razorbacks QB K.J Jefferson from developing a passing rhythm early, Durkin should keep a similar game plan and continue to emphasize pressure through a variety of creative blitz packages while keeping the secondary from being exposed.

However, as Anderon alluded, consistent effort was the primary factor in the Aggies’ defensive ascendence, and to reach their lofty goals with eight games remaining, replicating Saturday’s performance is the first step.

Texas A&M will now travel to AT&T Stadium to face the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 11:00 a.m. CT., and air on the SEC Network.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Five takeaways from Texas A&M’s 27-10 win over Auburn in Week 4

Texas A&M has the best QB room in the country, while their pass rush finally woke up. Here are the five takeaways from the Aggies’ Week 4 win over Auburn.

Texas A&M (3-1, 1-0 SEC) kicked off conference play with a 27-10 win over Auburn (3-1, 0-1 SEC), despite an untimely injury and a sluggish first half hindering the Maroon and White early.

It was truly a tale of two halves as Texas A&M mustered just a 6-3 lead over the Tigers heading into halftime. Despite a dominant defense effort through two quarters, the Aggies’ offense couldn’t oblige by putting points on the board. Their struggles were only exacerbated by losing their starting quarterback before the second half.

And then, the Maroon and White finally woke up in the third quarter. Led by the impressive play of backup quarterback Max Johnson, A&M’s offense finally began to hum en route to a 21-7 scoring run. Aside from an untimely Auburn defensive touchdown, the Aggies dominated the final two quarters to put them up 1-0 in conference play.

Saturday’s win is huge as the conference slate moves forward, and players such as Ainias Smith and Layden Robinson advocated the same in their postgame press conference. There are many positives to take away from the Week 4 victory, but of course, there remain key areas to address in order for this team to reach its fullest potential.

Here are the five takeaways from Texas A&M’s win over Auburn, which moves them to 1-0 in SEC play.

‘This first SEC win means everything, and we need to keep stacking,’ Max Johnson, Ainias Smith, and more recap win over Auburn

A handful of Aggie players had no shortage of praise and admiration for the manner in which Max Johnson led his team to victory.

Texas A&M (3-1) won its first SEC matchup of the season with a hard-fought 27-10 win over Auburn (3-1) on Saturday. It marks a milestone, the Aggie players know they can be even better moving forward.

Following Saturday’s win, Max Johnson, Ainias Smith, Layden Robinson, Bryce Anderson, and Edgerrin Cooper all took to the podium to recap the team effort. The victory warranted a group effort in all three phases of the game, and a sluggish first half only exacerbated that truth.

A&M’s offense stumbled through the first two quarters to take a 6-3 lead at the half. The Aggies’ defense showed up to play, but it took a minute for the offense to click. And then with 4:30 left to go in the second quarter, an injury to Conner Weigman only heightened the pressure.

But in Weigman’s absence, backup Max Johnson entered the fold and displayed a level of poise and leadership that one can only find in A&M’s quarterback room. He proved to be the x-factor for the game, having connected with brother Jake Johnson and receiver Evan Stewart to finish 7/11 for 123 yards and two passing touchdowns.

After the game, Johnson’s teammates had no shortage of praise and admiration for the manner in which the senior southpaw led his team.

Below are Max Johnson, Ainias Smith, Layden Robinson, Bryce Anderson, and Edgerrin Cooper’s full postgame press conferences, as well as notable highlights.

‘Proud of this team. That was a hard fought SEC victory,’ Jimbo Fisher recaps win over Auburn, Max Johnson’s big day, and more

Jimbo Fisher praised Max Johnson’s leadership, provided a brief update on Conner Weigman, and touted the Aggies defense, who “never blinked.”

Texas A&M (3-1) kicked off their SEC slate with a 27-10 win over Auburn (3-1) on Saturday. Led by a dominant defensive effort and the poise of quarterback Max Johnson, A&M overcame both the heat and the injury bug to move to 1-0 in conference play.

At one point, Texas A&M held just a 6-3 lead at halftime and was in a bit of a funk following a sluggish first two quarters. While the defense was stout, the Aggies were hindered by red zone penalties that forced them to settle for field goals. A first-half injury to Conner Weigman, which eventually ruled him out, only exacerbated the issue.

But backup quarterback Max Johnson entered in relief for Weigman and immediately provided a jolt to the offense. He connected with brother Jake Johnson and receiver Evan Stewart to finish 7/11 for 123 yards and two passing touchdowns.

The poise and leadership from Johnson was spotlighted by head coach Jimbo Fisher in his postgame press conference. Fisher also provided a brief update on Weigman’s injury status, while touting the play of the defense, who “never blinked.”

Below is Jimbo Fisher’s full postgame press conference following Saturday’s win over Auburn, as well as notable quotes from his time at the podium.

Social media reacts: Max Johnson delivers big in Texas A&M’s win over Auburn

With Conner Weigman sidelined, senior southpaw Max Johnson came in clutch to lead Texas A&M to victory over Auburn.

Not even the injury bug could stop Texas A&M from moving to 3-1 with a 27-10 win over Auburn on Saturday. To be fair, Aggie fans held their breath for a brief moment before halftime.

After taking a hit to the lower body in A&M’s own endzone, starting quarterback Conner Weigman left for the locker room before the end of the first half, and was subsequently ruled out for the game. But have no fear, because Max Johnson is here.

The senior southpaw stepped in at the start of the second half, and to say he performed admirably would be an understatement. Johnson delivered big by going 7/11 for 123 yards and two passing touchdowns. A brother-to-brother touchdown pass to tight end Jake Johnson, as well as a dime to Evan Stewart in double coverage, highlighted the senior’s efficient performance.

Johnson’s poise and leadership in the second half was the jolt that the Aggies offense needed after a stagnant first half. While the defense was tenacious and excellent up front, red zone penalties and a leaky offensive line held them back through the first two quarters. But Johnson’s play in the second half proved to be the x-factor as A&M started their SEC slate with a big win.

Here are the best social media reactions to Max Johnson’s big performance, which helped Texas A&M move to 3-1 on the season.

Post Game Recap: Behind a dominant defensive effort and QB Max Johnson, Texas A&M defeated Auburn 27-10 to open SEC play

Behind a resurgent defense and backup quarterback Max Johnson, Texas A&M defeated the visiting Auburn Tigers 27-10 to open SEC play.

In the 14th edition of Texas A&M vs. Auburn, excruciating heat, defense, and an untimely ankle injury to Aggies sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman illustrated one of the sloppiest games so far this season, until Texas A&M’s offense finally awoke from their slumber in the second half to defeat the Tigers 27-10 to open SEC play.

Leading 6-0 in the first half, Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper’s potential “scoop and score” return after what looked like an Auburn fumble on a swing pass from Tigers QB Peyton Thorne was oddly overturned, preventing the Aggies from taking a 13-0 lead and gaining needed momentum.

Offensively, Weigman (8/14, 70 yards passing in the first half) failed to find a report with his receivers. At the same time, the offensive line, specifically center Bryce Foster and right tackle Chase Bisontis, were the cause of several false starts that plagued nearly every offensive drive, constantly placing the Aggies behind the chains.

Backed up in his own end zone, Conner Weigman took a hit to his lower body when lined up in Texas A&M’s own end zone. He stayed in and finished the ensuing drive but immediately went into the tent once the Aggies offense was off the field. Backup veteran QB Max Johnson waited in the wings.

Defensively, Texas A&M’s pass rush was downright incredible, amassing four sacks in the first half while showing consistent physicality at the line of scrimmage. The Tiger’s offense was seemingly broken at the seams, needing more offensive firepower to correct their mistakes. As both offenses stalled, Auburn kicker Alex McPherson nailed a 53-yard FG to cut the halftime lead to 6-3.

Starting the second half on defense, the Aggies’ ferocious pass rush (I know, right?) ceased to let up, adding three more sacks for seven on the day while still controlling the line of scrimmage, leading to Max Johnson’s entry into the starting lineup, which seemed to be the spark the offense desperately needed.

Getting in a passing rhythm early, Johnson (7/11, 123 yards, 2 TD) was nearly perfect from the pocket, working through his progressions while hitting a trio of wide receivers before throwing a strike to his brother, sophomore tight end Jake Johnson, connecting for a 22-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 13-3, and creating by far the most incredible moment you’ll see this weekend.

Before you could blink, Johnson led the Aggies down the field on his second drive, throwing an absolute 37-yard dime to star WR Evan Stewart in double coverage to make it 20-3, establishing dominance on both sides of the ball.

Auburn swiftly took advantage of the Aggies’ late mistakes, returning a 67-yard fumble to make it a two-score game with over 12 minutes remaining. Tigers duel-threat QB Robby Ashford took most of the snaps in the second half, but the Aggie D continued to clamp down outside of several successful runs.

Back on offense, junior running back Amari Daniels’ 79-yard run led to sophomore running back Le’Veon Daniels running it in for a 4-yard touchdown to officially end the game and solidify one of the best second-half turnarounds from the Maroon and White in 2023.

While Conner Weigman’s injury status will likely take much of the oxygen out of the victory, strides were made this afternoon, as Texas A&M’s defense looks to be coming into its own at the right time. On the afternoon, the Aggies passed for 193 yards, rushed for 209 yards for 402 total yards, accumulated seven sacks on defense, 15 tackles for loss, and held Auburn to just 200 offensive yards (56 passing, 144 rushing) on the day.

Texas A&M will now travel to AT&T Stadium to face the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 11:00 a.m. CT., and will air on ESPN.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.