Auburn returns to Jordan-Hare Stadium after losing to Mississippi State in its first true road game.
The Tigers continue to struggle on offense while holding on with a consistently strong defense.
Diving past the typical stats in the box score, here is a look at some numbers that define Auburn’s successes on defense and struggles on offense:
23:46
Margin of the time of possession between Auburn and Mississippi State on Saturday. A big key to victory for the Bulldogs in the win was their ability to maintain control of the football. Auburn’s defense had little time to catch its breath with the Tiger offense only being on the field for 18:07, forcing the unit to stay on the field for 41:53. As much as Auburn cares about tempo, a discrepancy that large is not a winning formula for the Tigers looking to bounce back in the second half of the season.
21
Total rushing attempts and the fewest under a Malzahn-led offense at Auburn. The Tigers have struggled running between the tackles this season, rushing for under 100 yards in three straight games. On the bright side for the Tigers, the 4.29 yards per attempt has been their best mark of the season – minus the Alabama State game.
-3
Turnover margin in losses this season.The Tigers have done a good job forcing turnovers this season, but in games that have had higher stakes, they have failed to do so effectively. In wins this season, Auburn has forced 11 turnovers, but in losses they have forced only one while losing four.
27.78
Percent touchdown success rate for opposing teams against Auburn’s defense inside the red zone. Auburn's percentage is the best in the college football with teams only scoring five touchdowns on 18 attempts. The red zone defense has been the one constant for the Tigers this season and when their backs have been against the wall, they have stepped up their game.
2.79
Rushing yards per attempt while in the red zone for Auburn. The lack of a rushing attack has been a reoccurring theme and the trend continues while in red zone. Auburn rushes in in the red zone more often than elsewhere on the field, but the results don't match. The poor rushing performance in the red zone has Auburn positioned at No. 69 in the nation and No. 10 in the SEC.
5
Passing touchdowns this season for both Auburn and Tennessee. The two offenses have struggled when it has come to throwing the football, especially when trying to find the end zone through the air. Saturday’s matchup will feature the bottom two teams in the SEC when it comes to touchdown passes.
The lack of production through the air for Auburn has come as a surprise to most as quarterback Jarrett Stidham was selected as a second-team All-SEC player and listed on multiple player of the year watch lists. It has been the opposite for the second-year starter, having tied for 101st in the country for touchdowns thrown and placing average in other statistical categories.
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