Auburn football looks to keep its slim bowl season chances alive as it heads into its last three games of the season.
The Tigers need to win their next three games to earn a trip to a bowl game, and the potential final stretch of the season begins with the University of Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks.
The Warhawks interrupt Auburn's six-game stretch against SEC opponents, becoming the first Sun Belt conference team the Tigers will face this season.
ULM has played one SEC team this season when it visited Texas and took on Arch Manning in the absence of starting quarterback Quinn Ewers.
The Longhorns handled ULM, beating the Warhawks 51-3 and giving them their first loss of the season after a 2-0 start. ULM rebounded from that loss and started conference play hot, moving to 3-0 in conference play with a 5-1 record at the halfway point of the season.
However, ULM struggled in the back half of the season, losing three consecutive conference games, dropping to 5-4 and ending their hopes of a Sun Belt West Division title.
Auburn and ULM have squared off 11 times, with Auburn winning all 11 games. All games have taken place in Jordan-Hare stadium, with the most recent matchup being a 42-14 victory for the Tigers in 2017.
Needing one more win for bowl eligibility, the 5-4 Warhawks look to pull off one of the largest upsets of the season when they travel to Jordan-Hare on Saturday.
Offense:
The Warhawks offense has struggled this season, and they have found themselves at the bottom of the country, ranking 126 out of 133 teams nationally with 300.8 yards of total offense per game. ULM struggles to produce in the air, as they rank 130th nationally in passing yards per game with 128.7 yards per contest.
ULM has rotated between two quarterbacks this season, with starts from General Booty and, more recently, Aidan Armenta, who has stepped into the primary starter role.
Armenta, a redshirt freshman, has recorded 898 passing yards, seven touchdowns through the air and six interceptions but has turned the ball over in three consecutive games.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, ULM's rushing attack has been vastly more effective. With 172.1 rushing yards per game, it ranks 54th in the country, three spots ahead of Auburn.
The Warhawks boast a strong rushing attack, led by true freshman Ahmad Hardy, who has accumulated 915 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, posing a potential challenge for Auburn.
Defense:
The ULM defense has had an up-and-down season. It ranks mid-pack in the country (71st) with 370.3 yards allowed per game and has allowed an average of 37.3 points per game in its last three games.
The defense is led by defensive back Wydett Williams Jr., who has three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
They have had trouble getting to the quarterback this season, tied for 76th in the country with 17 total sacks on the year, recording three in their last three games.
Auburn's biggest advantage over the Warhawks lies in their struggles to stop the run. Ranked 117th in the nation, they allow an average of 198.7 rushing yards per game.
Auburn and ULM will meet for the 12th time in Jordan Hare on Saturday, Nov. 16. Kickoff is set for 11:45 a.m. CST and will be televised on SEC Network.
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Craig Noyes is a senior from Kensington, Maryland, majoring in journalism. He joined The Plainsman in January 2023.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @CraigNoyes58
