Under Gus Malzahn, Auburn is a team to be reckoned with when coming off of a bye week.
Since Malzahn joined Auburn's staff, the Tigers have been a dominant 7-0 after a bye. The unblemished record has not come easy with all seven wins coming against Power 5 opponents, six against SEC opponents and four of those being against Top-25 teams.
In such games, the Tigers have elevated their play averaging 36 points per game, 459 yards of offense and posting a plus-7 turnover margin.
The sixth-year head coach at Auburn knows how to take full advantage of the extra week to not only prepare for the next opponent but reflect on the team’s struggles and successes in order to have the greatest chance to win.
“Probably more than anything, it’s evaluating and getting a chance to work on us,” Malzahn said. “Clean some things up really in all phases that can help us in these last three weeks. And then, of course, any time you get an extra couple of days on an opponent, that really helps. We got a chance to watch them play on Saturday, so it’s good to get a head start on that, too.”
The importance of self-evaluation during a bye week is a key to a team’s success not only for the next opponent, but for the rest of the season.
“You just kind of take a step back, relax a little bit, and just get your mind and your bodies right to play,” Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham said. “In the SEC, especially in the West, when you go week in and week out and you’re playing somebody really, really good … it takes a toll on you mentally and physically, emotionally — the whole bit. So taking a step back, again, assess everything, look at it, really get ready for this next game, but also the three after that, it’s huge.”
Before Auburn takes on Texas A&M this weekend, here is a look at Malzahn’s head coaching success following bye weeks:
2013
Auburn 30, No. 24 Ole Miss 22
This win sparked a nine-game winning streak for the Tigers that would take them all the way to the national championship game. Quarterback Nick Marshall rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns, while Tre Mason added 139 total yards and a touchdown.
No. 4 Auburn, No. 1 Alabama 28
Kick. Six.
2014
No. 5 Auburn 20, No. 20 Kansas State 14
In unusual fashion during Marshall’s time at Auburn, the Tigers had to rely on his arm instead of his legs. Marshall threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns while the team only rushed for 128 yards combined.
No. 5 Auburn, South Carolina 35
Auburn could not be stopped offensively in this game, especially on the ground. Ricardo Louis, Marshall and Cameron Artis-Payne combined for 358 yards on the ground with 5 touchdowns. The Auburn defense did the offense no favors allowing 535 yards to the Gamecocks but did intercept the would-be tying interception on a desperation hail mary.
2015
Auburn 30, Kentucky 27
Even in Malzahn’s worst year as the Auburn head coach, the Tigers still found a way to come out on top after a bye. Sean White connected with Ricardo Louis seven times for 154 yards and someone by the name of Kerryon Johnson got his first career touchdown.
2016
No. 21 Auburn 56, No. 17 Arkansas 3
Auburn set the tone early in this one with an Eli Stove jet sweep that would be taken 78 yards to the house on the first offensive play from scrimmage for Auburn. The Tigers would go on to add 465 more yards and six touchdowns on the ground alone.
2017
No. 16 Auburn 42, Texas A&M 27
The last opponent to fall to Malzahn after a bye was Texas A&M last season, who just so happens to be who Auburn is playing on Saturday. The Texas A&M game sparked a historic November for the Tigers that would lead to two wins over No. 1 teams and an SEC Championship game appearance.
Ultimately, the extra bye week does give an advantage and Malzahn and his players have demonstrated their ability to step up and take that opportunity. As someone who has been there through majority of Malzahn’s time at Auburn, Deshaun Davis knows that the added preparation is key, especially against a Jimbo Fisher-led A&M squad.
“I got a chance to watch them against Mississippi State and make some calls against what they were playing and kind of trying to see how they were calling the game,” Davis said. “With stuff like that, it gives you an advantage, especially when the team you’re playing doesn’t have the bye week. They had a hard-fought (loss). They have to come back and play an 11 o’clock game, an early game. Right now, I feel like we have the advantage.”
Saturday’s game will kick off an onslaught of tough matchups in the month of November with road matchups coming against Georgia and Alabama. But just one year removed of going undefeated in November, this Tiger squad knows what it takes,
“I think for us last year in November was huge,” Stidham said. “We didn’t know exactly how it was going to play out obviously. But we came together, the entire month and really played well each week. It started off with A&M last year, and obviously it’s starting off with A&M this week. I think you take a lot from it, from last year’s experience, but I know our guys are really excited for it and ready for the challenge.”
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