Statistically speaking:

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1. Auburn Football

Statistically speaking: Auburn has nation’s top scoring offense, defense

Updated: Sep. 13, 2021, 12:15 p.m. | Published: Sep. 13, 2021, 7:00 a.m.

Sep 11, 2021; Auburn, AL, USA; Bo Nix (10) throws the ball during the game between Auburn and Alabama State at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Todd Van Emst/AU AthleticsTodd Van Emst/AU Athletics

 

 

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By Tom Green | tgreen@al.com

Let’s get this caveat out of the way: Auburn’s first two games of the season weren’t against the toughest competition. The Tigers opener against an Akron team that is now 1-24 in its last 25 games and expected to be among the worst teams in FBS this season, and then they followed it up with a tune-up against in-state FCS program Alabama State.

 

It wasn’t exactly murderer’s row for Auburn to open the Bryan Harsin era. Yet there’s something to be said for the Tigers through the first two weeks of the season, as they have taken care of their business -- in convincing fashion both times -- while other big-time programs have struggled against lesser competition. It’s why, as No. 22 Auburn (2-0) prepares for its first real test of the year against No. 10 Penn State (2-0), the Tigers find themselves with the nation’s top scoring offense and No. 1 scoring defense this season.

 

Auburn is averaging 61 points per game so far, and its 122 total points through the first two weeks is the fourth-most points to open a season in program history. The last time the Tigers posted back-to-back 60-point games to open a season came all the way back in 1932 -- nearly nine decades ago. Auburn’s 9.84 yards per play this season is also tops in the nation, as the Tigers are almost averaging a first down every time they snap the ball.

 

 

Defensively, Auburn is holding opponents to just five points per game after posting its first shutout since 2019 (a span of 15 games). Derek Mason’s defense is also limiting opposing offenses to just 3.03 yards per play, which also ranks first among FBS teams, just ahead of Georgia’s 3.13 yards allowed per play.

 

It has been an impressive, if not challenging, start for Auburn under Harsin, and the Tigers have done what they’re supposed to do through the first two weeks. Now, the real season begins this weekend with a trip to Happy Valley to take on No. 10 Penn State. It’s the first of six games against teams currently ranked in the AP poll remaining on Auburn’s schedule, and the first of four against top-10 teams.

 

 

The Nittany Lions are allowing just 11.5 points per game and putting up 30 points per game, so the Tigers will be put to the test in their primetime nonconference showdown.

 

 

Here’s a look at how Auburn stacks up statistically, in the SEC and among FBS teams, through the first two weeks of the season:

 

 

RUSHING OFFENSE (SEC rank, FBS rank)

 

 

2013: 328.3 (1st, 1st)

 

 

2014: 255.5 (2nd, 13th)

 

2015: 196.4 (5th, 35th)

 

 

2016: 271.3 (1st, 6th)

 

 

2017: 218.3 (4th, 26th)

 

 

2018: 167.5 (10th, 68th)

 

 

2019: 199.1 (4th, 33rd)

 

 

2020: 162.5 (7th, 67th)

 

 

After Akron: 316.0 (3rd, 11th)

 

 

2021: 340.0 (2nd, 3rd)

 

 

Why: Auburn rushed for 364 yards against Alabama State, with two players eclipsing the 100-yard mark.

 

 

Freshman Jarquez Hunter runs his way into Auburn record book

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