Another dreadful offensive performance finds Hugh Freeze and the Tigers on the losing end of a fourth straight home conference game – the last three as betting favorites – as Auburn falls to 3-6 overall in a 17-7 loss to Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt’s first ever win inside Jordan-Hare Stadium makes the Tigers 2-9 in their last eleven games against FBS teams — for the second time in the last four seasons.
“I am extremely disappointed again. This has been too often a story this year for us, for our players and our fans and you know, just very disappointed,” Freeze said following a second 1-5 start to SEC play in the last three seasons for the Tigers.
Auburn’s defense, entering the fourth quarter, hadn’t allowed Diego Pavia a pass completion since the end of the first quarter, held Vanderbilt to two-of-11 on third down and had only allowed one Commodore drive longer than 3:14 – Vanderbilt leads the SEC and is 12th in FBS in time of possession.
But without any support, in the form of points, from the offense, the defense eventually gave up back-to-back scores to Vanderbilt in the fourth quarter to seal the game. The Commodores touchdown drive was a 14-play, 78-yard, 8:53 long effort that included Pavia’s first completion of the second half.
“It’s very frustrating. You know, if I was on defense I would be frustrated too. We’re humans,” Auburn quarterback Payton Throne said.
Eight of Auburn’s 12 drives ended in six plays or less on Saturday and possessed the football in just 3:57 of the final 15 minutes of play. The Tigers’ senior running back Jarquez Hunter, following a career 278 rushing yard performance against Kentucky last Saturday, only had two rushing attempts in the entire second half – both on Auburn’s first drive of the third quarter.
“I don't think he's banged up, but he did look gassed to me,” Freeze said when asked why the reigning SEC offensive player of the week was involved in the critical moments down the stretch.
Hunter’s 12 carries this afternoon match his totals against Cal and Arkansas which are all his fewest against power-four competition this season.
“When we're not able to create explosive runs, it seems that we really struggle to protect the passer and to throw and catch some,” Freeze said. “So that's a bad combination.”
Third downs were a huge struggle for both sidelines on Saturday with Auburn and Vanderbilt combining to go six-of-29. The Tigers didn’t complete a single third down till the fourth quarter of play.
And yet, Auburn still outgained Vanderbilt in total yards 327 to 227 – marks the third time the Tigers have outgained an SEC opponent in a loss this season.
“Out gain them again, and for like, the fifth time this year, it feels like and don't have anything to show for it, because we were just not able to finish,” Freeze said. “And whether it's finishing drives with points from our field goal unit, or whether it's us not converting third downs, we struggled at all of that today, and certainly disappointed that we didn't stack upon last week's effort.”
After Freeze said the special teams penalties ‘has to stop’ on Monday, the Tigers racked up a crucial penalty on Vanderbilt’s field goal attempt, which later led to a touchdown to go up two scores instead, when Keldric Faulk propelled himself off a teammate in an attempt to muff or block the kick.
“That certainly was a critical call in the game, and one I strongly disagree with. On the line of scrimmage, you can put your hands on the back of your linemen. You can't land on them. I didn't think we landed on them,” Freeze said of the penalty called.
Towns McGough also missed both of his field goal attempts bringing him to a five-of-12 total for his true freshman season.
“I think finishing in anything you do is important. The easiest thing to do is for people to check out in life or in football. That's what the voices will say to so many. That's one of the things I've been very proud of this team: They haven't given in and they haven't checked out,” Freeze said.
All in all, Saturday’s loss to Vanderbilt all but kills any last hope of a bowl bid for Auburn with three games to go. Making a bowl game wasn’t the goal for Freeze’s second season – it was much more than that – but it certainly would’ve been a nice consolation prize considering the disastrous start to the 2024 campaign.
However, it was more of the same for the Tigers and it only continues, historically, one of the worst stretches in program history as Auburn now has six or more losses in three straight seasons for the first time since a stretch from 1946-48.
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Patrick is a junior from Auburn, Alabama, double majoring in journalism and marketing. He started with The Plainsman in the fall of 2022.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @patrickabingham
