Two weeks ago, the perception surrounding Auburn's football team was nearly 180 degrees from where it is now. The Tigers were looking at a bounceback season, an SEC Championship, and a berth in the College Football Playoff. At the SEC Media Days in July, Auburn was tabbed as the favorite to win the conference.
Now? Auburn looks like they'll be lucky to make the Belk Bowl, let alone the Cotton Bowl.
Auburn started off uneasy, but confident. A win against a decent Louisville team, albeit one that could've gotten away if the game were 10 minutes longer, provided a solid test to get the season rolling. There were some concerns, namely Jeremy Johnson's three interceptions, but it was shrugged off as an anomaly.
Then Jacksonville State happened.
Auburn came into that game as a 41.5-point favorite, and probably should've lost. The Gamecocks had their way with Auburn's defense all day: JSU quarterback Eli Jenkins finished 26-43 with 277 yards and a touchdown; he also gashed the Tigers on the ground for 37 yards.
The defense gave up 438 total yards. Now, that's easier to stomach when it's coming against, say, Texas A&M, but not against an FCS school.
What might even be more alarming, though, is Johnson's struggles. He again had trouble throwing the ball, getting picked off two more times to bring his season total to five interceptions. For the second game in a row, he was staring receivers down, pre-determining who he would throw the ball to before the snap.
There are some positives to take away, however.
Johnson displayed the poise and moxie he showed in his previous appearances, leading a surgical drive to tie the game up with 39 seconds left on a beautifully thrown pass to Melvin Ray in the corner of the end zone. When he's being forced to use his instincts and not overthink the throws, Johnson is as good as they come. He's just got to figure out a way to play like that the whole game.
There's good news on the defensive side as well.
Two of Auburn's most important players missed the JSU game, and a third was ejected midway through the second quarter. Carl Lawson hasn't played since the first half of the Louisville game, and it's clear Auburn's defense is a completely different animal when he's on the field. He's apparently day-to-day, as is safety Tray Matthews, who was also held out of Saturday's game. If he, Lawson, and Blake Countess return, Auburn's defense can be as dominant as it was when it was shutting out Louisville.
Even though the sky seems like it's falling, there's still time to turn it around. Auburn, after all, is still undefeated, and has yet to begin conference play. But this Saturday's game against LSU is as big a game as they come. If there was ever a time to get everything right, it's on the road in Death Valley. Auburn isn't out of the running by any stretch, but one slip-up, and everything could go down in flames.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
