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Tale of the Tape: Auburn vs Ole Miss

Ole Miss is favored in week seven, but does the tale of the tape say this game will be closer?

The 5-1 Ole Miss Rebels travel to Jordan-Hare stadium to take on the 3-3 Auburn Tigers in a week 7 SEC matchup on Saturday.

Auburn comes into this one a loser of three straight games, while Ole Miss has only lost once all year. That loss came in Tuscaloosa to Alabama.

The high-octane offense of Ole Miss and their ability to win SEC games has the Rebels coming in as 6.5-point favorites on the road in this one, giving them an implied 71.43% chance to win outright.

ESPN’s Football Power Index doesn’t give the Tigers much of a chance either, as [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag]’s team has just a 22.8% chance to upset the Rebels according to FPI.

Most of the public would agree Ole Miss is likely to win this game, but will a look at the tale of the tape show us Auburn has a better chance at breaking their losing streak than the surface suggests?

As always, we’ll start by examining the quarterbacks.

[autotag]Lane Kiffin[/autotag]’s offenses are always high-powered, and this year is no outlier. The team averages 42 points per contest this season, led by the arm of quarterback [autotag]Jaxon Dart[/autotag].

Dart has been amazing this year, as the junior has thrown for 1,638 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has thrown only two interceptions.

On the Auburn side, [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] and [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] have continuously struggled.

The tandem has thrown for just 935 yards in 6 games, accumulating 6 touchdowns through the air.

The clear edge in the quarterback battle goes to Ole Miss.

In terms of the skill players, Ole Miss once again has the edge,

Running backs [autotag]Quinshon Judkins[/autotag] and [autotag]Ulysees Bentley[/autotag] have combined to rush for 718 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns this year behind a very good Rebels offensive line.

The pass catchers have also been great, with the trio of [autotag]Jordan Watkins[/autotag], [autotag]Dayton Wade[/autotag], and [autotag]Tre Harris[/autotag] combining for over 1,000 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.

When compared with Auburn’s top skill position players like [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag], [autotag]Jay Fair[/autotag], and [autotag]Brian Battie[/autotag], the comparison is not close.

Ole Miss as an offense is much better than what Auburn has to offer.

The defensive battle is much closer, however.

Despite Auburn getting torched by Jayden Daniels and LSU last week, the Tigers still rank in the top 60 in points per game allowed and the top 70 in yards per game allowed.

While those numbers are much worse than what they were earlier, they are great compared to an Ole Miss defense that ranks outside of the top 100 in both categories.

If Auburn is going to win this game, they need to take advantage of their better defensive unit. That is something they were not able to do a week ago, but the home game may change the tide.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Brian on Twitter @TheRealBHauch

Auburn announces depth chart for game against Ole Miss

Auburn will keep the starting lineup the same for their Week 8 matchup with Ole Miss.

After a two week break, Auburn is set to return to Jordan-Hare Stadium to take on the Ole Miss Rebels. The Tigers are looking to snap a three-game losing streak and they have announced their depth chart for the game.

The Tigers have had to make several changes over the past weeks due to injury but that is not the case this week. The only change on the offense was removing the OR between quarterbacks [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] and [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] as backup to [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag].

Ashford has seen plenty of action as [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and offensive coordinator [autotag]Philip Montgomery[/autotag] have used Ashford and Thorne in a two-quarterback system. Grenier has attempted just nine passes and was clearly behind Ashford.

Auburn also made some adjustments to the depth chart on defense, [autotag]Champ Anthony[/autotag] is now the backup at star instead of [autotag]J.D. Rhym[/autotag]. In a corresponding move, Anthony is no longer listed as a backup at boundary cornerback, leaving Rhym as the only reserve.

Here is a look at the full depth chart.

Hugh Freeze press conference review: Ole Miss week

Here’s everything Hugh Freeze said ahead of this Saturday’s matchup against his former program.

[autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] spoke with the media ahead of this weekend’s game against No. 12 Ole Miss at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Several topics of discussion include his team’s effort in a forgettable game at No. 19 LSU, injuries, and offensive tempo.

One of the main topics that he discussed Monday was the quarterback rotation. [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] passed for just 102 yards in Saturday’s loss, while [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] gained just 71 total yards and a touchdown. Has Freeze settled on just one quarterback? It is still early in the week, but do not bet on it.

“Yeah, I have not really seen the staff much today because of everything I have to do Monday mornings, but that is still being discussed. I would expect that you would see both QBs.”

Here is a rundown of everything Hugh Freeze said Monday ahead of Saturday’s game against Ole Miss.

Tigers of the Game: The Ashford-Frazier connection is special

Auburn may have lost on Saturday, but Robby Ashford may have found his top target.

Auburn football may have lost a tough game to No. 20 LSU on Saturday, but quarterback [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] may have found his top target.

Auburn’s offense remained cold in their 48-18 loss to LSU in Death Valley on Saturday night, but there were a few positive takeaways that need to be discussed. One of those is the connection formed between Ashford and tight end [autotag]Brandon Frazier[/autotag]. Ashford found Frazier three times in the game, with one going for a touchdown.

Defensively, a bright spot was the play of linebacker [autotag]Eugene Asante[/autotag]. Asante made 12 stops with a sack in the game.

Following the game, Auburn Wire writers as well as Auburn fans revealed their picks for “Tiger of the Game” after the tough loss, here are the results.

Instant Analysis: Auburn has no answer for Jayden Daniels, LSU offense

Auburn could not keep up with LSU’s high-octane offense in their 48-18 loss on Saturday night.

The final game between Auburn and No. 20 LSU for the foreseeable future could not have gone more horribly for the orange-and-blue-clad Tigers.

Auburn struggled to keep up with LSU’s high-octane offense as they were outgained 563-293 in their 48-14 loss to the Bayou Bengals at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Auburn had to pluck many thorns out of its side on Saturday night, but the biggest of all was LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, who accounted for 418 total yards and three touchdowns. He connected with eight different receivers, with his top targets being Malik Nabors and Kyren Lacy. Nabors hauled in six passes for 89 yards, while Lacy reeled in 111 receiving yards on four catches.

Auburn struggled in the passing game on Saturday, as [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] was able to connect on just 55% of his passes. [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] completed three of four passes for 52 yards. All three of Ashford’s completions were to tight end [autotag]Brandon Frazier[/autotag]. The visiting Tigers gained 139 yards of rushing, with neither of Auburn’s five rushers gaining more than 69 yards a piece.

Defensively, [autotag]Eugene Asante[/autotag] led the team in tackles with 12.

LSU struck first on a Daniels touchdown pass to Nabors with 13:21 remaining in the first quarter. The scoring drive ended quickly, as it needed just four plays and 75 yards to complete.

After an Auburn punt, LSU used an 11-play drive to extend their lead to 10-0. Damian Ramos’ 30-yard field goal capped a 66-yard drive with 6:39 remaining in the opening quarter.

The final score of the first quarter came with 2:15 remaining when LSU running back John Emery Jr. scored from two yards away to extend the Bayou Bengals’ lead to 17-0. LSU outgained Auburn, 216-45 in the first quarter, and split their passing and rushing output in half, gaining 109 yards in both categories.

Auburn’s luck quickly changed, as they were the first team to score in the second quarter. Auburn completed an eight-play, 75-yard drive that began in the 1st quarter with a two-yard rush by [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag]. Auburn cut into LSU’s lead, 17-7, with 14:22 remaining in the first half.

LSU scored on its fourth possession with 10:21 remaining in the half thanks to Ramos’ second field goal of the game. He connected on a 35-yard field goal to extend LSU’s lead to 20-7. That score would hold as both teams entered the locker room at halftime.

Auburn’s first drive of the second half had promise but fizzled out at the LSU 20-yard line. Auburn drove 55 yards in seven plays, but Ashford was sacked on third down, which forced them to kick a field goal. [autotag]Alex McPherson[/autotag] connected on a 38-yard field goal to trim LSU’s lead to 20-10 with 11:35 to go in the 3rd quarter.

As LSU has repeatedly done, they responded to Auburn’s score with one of their own. Following Auburn’s field goal, Daniels tossed his second touchdown pass of the game with 8:00 remaining in the 3rd quarter. His connection with Kyren Lacy pushed LSU ahead, 27-10.

It would not take long for LSU to extend their lead. Five minutes after linking with Lacy, Daniels threw his third touchdown pass of the night to Josh Williams to push the LSU lead to 34-10 late in the 3rd quarter.

Auburn’s 4th quarter started similarly to its 2nd quarter, with a quick touchdown. Ashford connected with Frazier for the third time with 14:56 remaining in the game, but the first for a score. The three-yard score cut into LSU’s lead, 34-18.

LSU’s next score came with 8:51 remaining in the game. Running back Logan Diggs scored his first touchdown of the game from five yards out to extend the Tigers’ lead to 41-18. Diggs ended the game with 97 yards on 18 carries. The final blow would come with 2:28 remaining in the game when Josh Daniels ran one yard to push the lead to 48-18.

Auburn’s hunt for its first SEC win of the season will continue next week at Jordan-Hare Stadium when the Tigers host No. 13 Ole Miss. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and will be televised by ESPN.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

Hugh Freeze is not giving up on Payton Thorne yet

Freeze has pledged to better prepare Thorne for SEC competition going forward.

Auburn’s offense has not gotten off to as hot of a start as most had hoped, especially with the likes of [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and [autotag]Philip Montgomery[/autotag] running the offense.

Starting quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] has recorded 100 or more yards just twice this season and has been yanked in favor of [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] or [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] in several games.

According to stats from Pro Football Focus, Auburn receivers have not dropped a pass this season despite Thorne only completing 65% of his passes. He has also been pressured 21 times with 11 of those pressures ending in sacks.

Freeze was asked about the possibility of switching quarterbacks for the team’s upcoming game with Georgia. He says that he is sticking with Thorne for now, but Geriner could see more action following the bye week, which is scheduled for next weekend.

During Wednesday’s SEC teleconference, Freeze took accountability for Thorne’s play so far and said that Thorne has acknowledged his struggles as well.

“We’re asked to be psychologists along with being a coach. I feel like there’s things our staff has let him down on. Some of it is him, and he knows that and owns it,” Freeze said. “But I promised him we’d do a better job coaching him this week and preparing him and when you say coaching him, that also means the other positions that need to be in the right spots at the right times. At the same time, if you’ve got a wheel route that’s wide-open, you’ve got to hit it.”

It appears that Thorne is getting one last chance to prove his worth, and Freeze is going to work harder to make him more comfortable in Auburn’s offensive scheme. He hopes to see the adjustment pay off soon.

“This thing’s got to turn into a positive vibe somehow,” Freeze said. “And it takes some mental toughness to do that on (Thorne’s) part and our part. In the coming weeks, we need to see some progress.”

Thorne’s next chance to put it all together will be Saturday at 2:30 when the Tigers host No. 1 Georgia at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Charles Barkley weighs in on Auburn’s quarterback struggles

One of Auburn’s most beloved alumni has something to say regarding the “most important position in sports.”

There is no doubt that the quarterback position is the unit that has experienced the most struggle through the first four games of the 2023 season.

Auburn’s Payton Thorne has thrown for over 100 yards just twice this season, and zero Auburn quarterbacks have thrown for over 100 yards against a Power Five opponent since the loss to Arkansas on Oct. 29 of last season.

The strain of quarterback play to Auburn’s success has called for one of the University’s most beloved alumni to share his take on the matter.

Charles Barkley, former NBA star and current analyst for NBA broadcasts on TNT, joined Birmingham sports talk show The Next Round to discuss his thoughts on Auburn football to this point of the season.

He referenced Hugh Freeze’s role in a mass baptism that took place on campus two weeks ago when discussing his alma mater’s quarterback play.

“If y’all gonna be down there baptizing people, please pray for better quarterback play,” Barkley said. “Let’s get these three quarterbacks and baptize them and maybe the Lord can make them play better.”

Barkley went on to provide an honest analysis of Auburn’s quarterbacks and declared what he would do if he were in Freeze’s shoes.

“Because the one thing you can’t do as a coach, you can’t have your quarterback playing scared,” Barkley said. “You can’t have your quarterback playing scared or looking over his shoulders. You can’t play three quarterbacks, you can’t play two quarterbacks. Because that’s the most important position in sports, but the number one thing you have to have as a player is confidence in yourself to make good plays and bad plays. If you are scared to make bad plays you can’t make good plays, and right now they are in no man’s land.”

Auburn quarterbacks [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag], [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag], and [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] have combined to complete 60-of-101 passes for 693 yards and five touchdowns with three interceptions. The next opportunity for them to improve their numbers will be Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. CT against Georgia at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

How Auburn’s offense compares to the rest of the SEC after Week 4

Auburn’s offense has struggled to start the season outside of one area.

The Auburn Tigers are 3-1 to start the [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] era but the schedule is about to get a whole lot tougher now that SEC play has started.

That was shown last week when the Tigers lost 27-10 to the Texas A&M Aggies. Their next three games are against Georgia, LSU and Ole Miss, all of whom are ranked inside the top 20 in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll.

While Auburn has just one loss so far, they had a close call against Cal and the offense has not exactly inspired confidence. Starting quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] has completed 65% of his passes against Power Five opponents and [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] hasn’t looked great in his opportunities either.

One area that has shined has been the running backs, led by [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] they give Auburn one of the deepest rooms in the conference, although that will be tested by Damari Alston’s shoulder injury.

Here is a look at how Auburn’s offense compares to the rest of the SEC and the nation in several key areas.

Hugh Freeze press conference review: Georgia week

Freeze hit on a number of topics including his thoughts on the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, Kirby Smart’s success, and quarterback play.

[autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] returned to the podium to address the media following his team’s 27-10 loss to Texas A&M on Saturday and spent time sharing his thoughts ahead of Saturday’s game with Georgia.

One of the main points of emphasis in Monday’s presser was quarterbacks. Starter [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] passes for less than 100 yards for the second-straight game and has failed to consistently complete 75% or more of his passes. Backup [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] has gotten looks, but he has not won the battle over Thorne yet.

Third-stringer [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] played several snaps in the Texas A&M game, could he potentially start Saturday against Georgia? Freeze shut down that possibility Monday but described the diagram for Geriner to get more looks.

“I think Holden, if he ends up at some point being the guy, he must have a lot of reps. I love the way he seemed poised. His throws were inaccurate. Two balls out of bounds. He threw one really good one. Really, he was about 1-for-5 in accuracy. We are talking about a guy that we haven’t given quality reps. I think he, with the quality reps, could be more accurate. He has the quickest release. He stands tall in the pocket, and I don’t remember him having an enormous amount of pressure around him at that time, so that remains to be seen. Something that we must look at during the off week. I have a lot of things; I have a whole list that I have formulated.”

Freeze hit on a number of topics including his thoughts on the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, Kirby Smart’s success, and his view on playcalling.

Here’s a rundown of everything Hugh Freeze said during his Georgia week press conference on Monday.

Top plays from Auburn’s 27-10 loss to Texas A&M

The Auburn Tigers lost its first game of the season in week four. Still, there were plays that deserved recognition.

The Auburn Tigers dropped their first game of the season on Saturday in embarrassing fashion, losing to conference rival Texas A&M 27-10.

The Tigers offense sputtered, as starting quarterback Payton Thorne threw for only 44 yards before being benched in the third quarter in favor of [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag].

The running game was adequate, but no one could really get anything going besides Junior running back [autotag]Brian Battie[/autotag], who accounted for over 25% of Auburn’s total offensive output.

The defense continued their solid play however, as they not only scored the Tiger’s lone touchdown but also held A&M to 193 pass yards and 27 points.

Both of those numbers are well below the Aggies season averages of 301 and 40, respectively.

Despite the ugly effort Auburn did have some plays that are worth mentioning.

Here are the top four.