After four games, Auburn was lifeless.
All the preseason hopes, dreams and expectations of the Auburn faithful only made the Tigers’ 2-2 record that much more disappointing.
In a fateful 27 days, Auburn went from No. 6 in the preseason AP poll to not receiving a vote, Jeremy Johnson went from Heisman hopeful to backup and Gus Malzahn went from being regarded as one of the nation’s best up-and-coming coaches to an under-performing coach with a $4 million salary.
The passing offense was turnover-prone, the running game was not nearly as dominant as years past and the defense was porous under new coordinator Will Muschamp.
Throughout the struggles, players and coaches said they would continue to work hard and focus on the weeks ahead, but fans were understandably skeptical. After all, they heard the same message in 2012, when Auburn finished 3-9 with no SEC wins.
But unlike the 2012 team, this year’s team has backed up its words with actions. The Tigers kept fighting, and as promised, they have improved.
After a win over San Jose State, Auburn earned its first SEC win in a tough Thursday night game at Kentucky.
The offense emerged, posting a then-season-high 407 yards, and the defense came up with a stop on fourth down to seal the game.
Two heartbreaking losses followed, including a four-overtime defeat at Arkansas and a one-possession loss at home against Ole Miss. Even in the losses, Auburn continued to show improvement and fight.
The offense continued to progress, posting season-highs in both games, and the defense — despite giving up a season-high in yardage to Ole Miss — continued to make timely plays.
Then came the complete game that fans, coaches and players have been searching for since Auburn escaped the Georgia Dome with a win to open the season.
The Tigers traveled to College Station to face Texas A&M in Kyle Field, one of college football’s most intimidating venues.
Minutes before kickoff, Auburn announced that Johnson, banished to the bench since his horrific performance against LSU, would start in place of the injured Sean White.
Johnson led the offense to a season-high in yardage for the fourth consecutive game, a feat not accomplished at Auburn since the first four games of the 2003 season.
After surrendering 558 yards to Ole Miss, the defense held dynamic quarterback Kyler Murray and the Texas A&M offense to 303 yards, the largest drop in back-to-back SEC games since 2010.
The 26-10 score didn’t do the performance justice. It was a dominating effort, one that few considered possible after a blowout defeat at LSU and an ugly home loss to Mississippi State.
Auburn won’t beat the best team in the nation when it rolls into town for the Iron Bowl on Nov. 28, but the Tigers face a struggling Georgia at home and have a sure win left on the schedule in the form of lowly Idaho.
Malzahn’s squad will likely finish 7-5 in a season in which it could have easily slid to 4-8. The Tigers will be playing in the postseason instead of watching the bowl games from the sofa, and they have continued to improve when many expected them to quit.
After being left for dead in the cellar of the SEC West, Auburn is very much alive.
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