11/7/22 Auburn Articles

[aubiefifty 18,251]

Coach Caddy sparks joy despite defeat at Auburn

Published: Nov. 06, 2022, 4:05 p.m.

4-5 minutes

---

Auburn’s 39-33 loss against Mississippi State continued a demoralizing five-game losing streak. The Tigers parted with head coach Bryan Harsin after 21 games and a 9-12 record on Monday and promoted Cadillac Williams to interim head coach.

Williams told reporters he slept around 10 hours during the week before entering the contest against the Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium. He likely rested well on Saturday after finishing his duties with media obligations, visiting with recruits, and recording the postgame show.

There wasn’t the historical moment of Auburn’s first win with an African-American head coach for Williams, who didn’t shy away from the emotional week. However, the Tigers rushed back from a 24-3 deficit to take a 25-24 lead with 6:36 left in the game on Tank Bigsby’s 41-yard touchdown run.

Read More Auburn Football: Impactful plays and takeaways from Auburn’s 39-33 OT loss at Mississippi State -

Even in defeat, Auburn didn’t blink in Cadillac Williams “special night”

Goodman: Excruciating theater on a Saturday in the South

Auburn nearly brought the game home when Jarquez Hunter plowed into the endzone with 1:05 left.

“Two things we talked about all week was serve and believe,” Williams said. “I think those guys exemplified it. They showed that. So, my message to those guys was, we’re not going to take this as a loss. Yeah, we didn’t complete the mission yet; we lost, but there’s so many, so many, so many life lessons. So many life lessons that these kids are going to learn from (tonight).”

Williams watched the 33-30 lead evaporate on a field goal at the end of the fourth. One of the lessons will come from how Auburn handled the game’s final moments. Mississippi State got the back after the game-tying field goal because of a misstep by the Tigers during the ensuing kickoff.

The Bulldogs missed the 51-yard attempt, but it shouldn’t have happened. Williams could’ve pointed the finger at Sean Jackson for mishandling the ball leading to the extra possession. Instead, Williams acknowledged an error on his part.

“Honestly, it’s totally on me. I’m a firm believer in that you get what you emphasize. I emphasized two things all week: serve and believe,” Williams said. “I just added the discipline part today. So it’s: serve, discipline, and believe. Those kids are going to get better. They had a lot going on this week. I told Sean Jackson and all of them that it’s nobody’s fault. We’re going to wrap our hands around Sean.”

“Kids make mistakes. We have to get better with the discipline aspect of it, which I just emphasized today. Don’t look at the kid; that’s entirely on me.”

Williams took the blame for Auburn losing while giving the players the praise for the comeback. It was a tough week for the Tigers, but the postgame mood was upbeat. Auburn hopes to translate the good vibes into a win with the reeling Texas A&M Aggies coming to town this weekend.

“It was just positivity around everywhere,” Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford, who rushed for two touchdowns, said. “Just being happy, because we knew, I kind of feel like everybody knew what happened was just kind of rough. You’re deep into the season, and it’s not going how we want it to, but at the end of the day, Coach ‘lac, he’s been nothing but great to us. I have so much love for him; the positivity brings, I mean, you can’t match it. To go out there and play for somebody like that is great.”

Nubyjas Wilborn covers Auburn for Alabama Media Group.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

[aubiefifty 18,251]

Auburn, Dan Lanning have mutual interest in Tigers' head coaching job

Lance Dawe

4-5 minutes

---

Up next in our "making the case" series with Auburn head coaching candidates is Dan Lanning, head coach of the Oregon Ducks.

Our sources have confirmed that there is mutual interest between Auburn and Lanning, who is nine games into his head coaching tenure with Oregon. Other reports have confirmed that Lanning and Auburn have been in contact.

This could all be a play to get an extension from the Ducks.

Here's a look at Lanning's resume, why he fits on the Plains and why the Tigers may pursue him further.

The Fit

"Culture fit" is a phrase often thrown around without full understanding of what it means. It's not all about personality. It's also about winning.

Being a culture fit varies from school to school. Some fanbases lean into certain people more. Others, less. Sam Pittman and Arkansas are a good example of what it means to be a culture fit.

Some places don't need the right personality to succeed. Brian Kelly and LSU are a good current example. Nick Saban wasn't a good personality fit with Alabama when he started coaching for the Tide.

After this last go around with Bryan Harsin, one could argue that while the Tigers need someone who will win, they also need someone who can blend into the landscape a little better. Someone who can earn the support of the fanbase and also back it up with winning.

Dan Lanning is a stand up coach who isn't a personality risk like Lane Kiffin or Hugh Freeze. Bottom line. On top of that, he's arguably a better recruiter than both.

The Resume

Record at Oregon: 7-1

Overall Record: 7-1

Head coaching experience: Oregon

Other experience: Pittsburgh (GA), Arizona State (GA/RC), Sam Houston State (DB), Alabama (GA), Memphis (ILB), Georgia (DC/OLB)

Notes: Lanning has two national championship rings as a GA for the Crimson Tide (2015) and a defensive coordinator for the Bulldogs (2021). A coach cut from the Kirby Smart/Nick Saban tree that is now finding success at a Power Five job should be taken into strong consideration.

Arguably the most impressive part of his resume is his most recent before Oregon: Leading one of the best defensive units of the 21st century (Georgia) to a national title. Georgia's 2021 defense is the second-best of any national title-winning team since 2005, right behind 2011 Alabama. That defense was legendary. Lanning could restore that side of the ball for Auburn.

My Thoughts

Since the blowout loss to his former team in the season opener, Lanning's Oregon squad has gotten progressively better - and has torn through the Pac-12 slate thus far. He picked up six five-star commitments during his time at Georgia and has a solid recruiting track record. He produced two top-three defensive units with the Bulldogs and has all the things an SEC school would want - league experience, two national titles as GA and DC, recruiting talent, and the proven ability to develop talent.

He has everything except a lengthy head coaching record. He can recruit, he's a proven winner in the SEC, and his personality would fit well on the Plains.

May it also be noted that former Oregon coach Willie Taggart bolted from the Ducks in 2017 after one season to go coach Florida State.

Anything is possible here with Auburn and Lanning.

[aubiefifty 18,251]

Cadillac Williams shares challenges as Auburn interim coach after Tigers lose to Mississippi State in debut

Raymond Lucas Jr

3-4 minutes

---

 

In his debut as Auburn's interim coach, Cadillac Williams and the Tigers came up short against Mississippi State, 39-33, in overtime Saturday night. Before donning a headset, Williams starred at running back at Auburn in the early 2000s, eventually becoming the No. 5 overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. He previously served as the Tigers running backs coach and was promoted after the firing of Bryan Harsin last week. Williams explained the challenges he faces as head coach following the game.

"From Monday through Thursday, I ran off about six hours of sleep," Williams said of navigating as a head coach. "I did get about three or four hours of sleep last night. I hadn't been able to sleep. Us offensive coaches have been in the building until 1, 2 in the morning. We're scrambling. When you practice an offense one way for eight weeks and then you get a bombshell hit on you like that — now you're trying to coordinate calling it and everything that goes into it. I'm just telling you, I don't think y'all understand. Man, I'm proud of those kids and what just happened. We were believing, but it was whispers there of, "Whoa, this about to be ...' Keep it close. It'll be much better this week, though. Much better.

"We'll have some time to teach. We're tweaking the schedule. We're giving the guys off tomorrow, where they'll have a captain's practice where they go in and watch film and work out on their own — where our coaches can really move forward from this game. We're going to practice on Monday, and we can be more organized, and it'll be better to put these kids in better positions. These kids fought. They fought."

Inexperience might prevent Williams from having a legitimate shot at the permanent head coaching position. Still, Williams could have a bright future and Auburn Undercover's Nathan King joined The College Football Daily to explain Williams' status and role moving forward, and what could be in store for the former Auburn All-American running back.

"That's what some people were talking about yesterday," King said. "Cadillac, great guy. Great recruiter. Has done only good things since he got here at Auburn. You talk to anybody they can only say good things about him. This is his first college job. Where Gus Malzahn plucked him from, he was a high school coach at IMG Academy which, of course that's a great job, but then he was coaching the Birmingham Iron in the AAF. He was their running backs coach. It made a lot of sense to bring him home but I really don't know about any other opportunities he would have had there other than his alma mater at Auburn and now he's done great. He's recruited really well. Tank Bigsby obviously reflects really well on what he's done over the past couple years. From what we heard, he actually had a couple NFL opportunities last offseason that didn't really break his way."

Subscribe to 247Sports YouTube for the latest college football, basketball and recruiting news including live college commitments.

Williams and Auburn (3-6, 1-5 in SEC) continue the season Saturday at home against Texas A&M (3-6, 1-5).

">247Sports

[aubiefifty 18,251]

Auburn starting lineman to undergo season-ending procedure following Saturday injury, per report

Rolando Rosa

2-3 minutes

---

If Auburn is going to overcome the odds to reach .500 and qualify for a bowl game, the Tigers will have to do so without the services of one of their starting offensive linemen.

Sixth-year senior Austin Troxell suffered a knee injury during Auburn’s 39-33 overtime defeat at Mississippi State that will end his career with the Tigers, according to 247Sports.

This is the second starting offensive lineman Auburn has lost this season. Center Tate Johnson had elbow surgery after Week 4.

Troxell exited the loss during the third quarter and didn’t return. The 6-foot-7, 309-pound Troxell arrived at Auburn as a 4-star recruit. It’s been an injury-marred career at Auburn for Troxell. He’s dealt with knee injuries and missed all of the 2019 season due to surgery.

In 2020, Troxell became a fixture as the starting left tackle, where he remained for the next 2 seasons. After Killian Zierer took over at left tackle this preseason, Troxell slid over to right tackle where he’s made 8 starts. In total, Troxell has started 24 contests during his time at Auburn.

Next up for Auburn is a home contest on Saturday against Texas A&M (7:30 p.m. ET/SEC Network).

[aubiefifty 18,251]

 

caddy in the locker room after the game.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 7, 2022 by aubiefifty

[aubiefifty 18,251]

Thoughts from Auburn’s overtime loss at Mississippi State

* Why did it take eight games and a change in head coaches to figure out called runs for quarterback Robby Ashford would be a really good idea?

* Interim head coach Cadillac Williams’ positive energy on the sideline was a welcome sight. And his players responded.

* Offensive play-calling, particularly in the second half, was as good as I have seen at Auburn in a long while. Kudos to offensive line coach Will Friend, who is acting as offensive coordinator.

* Defensive coordinator Jeff Schmedding deserves some credit, too. After a shaky start, the defense gave the Tigers a chance to win.

* Mainly, Auburn players deserve credit for responding after an extremely difficult week.

* There should be consequences for the official who made the bogus pass interference call against Auburn in overtime, but there won’t be. Judgment call and all. Face-guarding is not a penalty in college football, so not turning his head should not have been an issue. The ball was clearly uncatchable. From what I have been able to tell watching replays, I don’t believe there was even any contact with the receiver.

* If there is one decision Williams would like to have back, it is probably going for it on fourth-and-one deep in his own territory.

* The combination of a short squib kick and a facemask penalty on Auburn’s final kickoff was devastating.

* It is clear that Anders Carlson, who routinely sailed kickoffs through the end zone before last season’s ACL injury, is struggling now. Why not let heralded freshman Alex McPherson kick off? He can do it now and still protect his redshirt season.

* Defensive tackle Colby Wooden and edge rusher Derrick Hall are the kinds of players every coach wants. They have NFL talent. They are superior leaders. And they play all-out on every snap.

Another emotional game for Williams

Who would have thought that Auburn and Texas A&M would match five-game losing streaks next Saturday. Despite those records, I look for Jordan-Hare Stadium to be rocking.

Texas A&M will clearly be the more talented team, but that talent has not translated into anything positive so far this season. Auburn is a 1-point favorite. It will be another emotional game for Williams, who found stardom on the Pat Dye Field grass.

A valuable lesson from LSU

LSU coach Brian Kelly did Saturday night against Alabama what Harsin should have done against Alabama last season. In overtime, Alabama scored first and LSU answered. Kelly called for a two-point conversion. It worked, and LSU won. Auburn faced the same situation last season against Alabama and kicked. The folly of that decision is that, according to overtime rules, after both teams score touchdowns, you are going to have to win the game with two-point conversions. Why not go for it?

Kelly answers doubters

There were those – I among them – who thought Brian Kelly would thrive when he moved from Notre Dame to LSU. He has proved us doubters wrong.

LSU, after consecutive non-winning seasons, didn’t look like much to start the season. There was a home loss to Florida State, a 17-point deficit at Auburn and a blowout loss to Tennessee. But since then, Kelly’s team has improved steadily. The past two weeks, the Bayou Bengals knocked off Alabama and Ole Miss to take full control of the West Division.

Georgia’s domination continues

Georgia had 15 players drafted off last season’s national championship team. This team might be better. The Bulldogs simply overwhelm opponents with talent. Saturday’s 27-13 win over Tennessee wasn’t nearly as close as the score.

I haven’t seen much of Ohio State, but Georgia is the best team I have watched, and it’s not close. Interestingly, Kirby Smart doesn’t have a portal transfer on his roster.

Cohen sits out trip to Starkville

Auburn athletics director John Cohen did not attend Saturday’s game at Mississippi State, and I don’t blame him. He was the Mississippi State athletics director until last Monday morning. It would have been an incredibly uncomfortable situation.

The coaching search

As Auburn begins its search for a new head coach, I continue to hear more talk about Lane Kiffin than anyone else, but it must be remembered that most of what I hear is second- or third-hand. I am not ready to declare him or anyone else the favorite to land the job.

Kiffin has said nothing to dampen the speculation. Meanwhile, he has a huge home game Saturday against Alabama. Can the Rebels win? It’s possible, but not likely. I don’t see how their defense can hold Alabama down enough to get it done.

A statement win for Freeze

Think what you will about Hugh Freeze and his well-publicized previous issues, but the guy is a heck of a coach. Saturday’s 21-19 victory at Arkansas was just the latest indication of that. I don’t know where he stands in Auburn’s search or if he is even part of it, but I have little doubt he would be a big winner at Auburn.

A rule that needs to be changed

25COMMENTS

If ever there was a rule that needs to be changed, it is the one that says the tackle box extends to the goal line on punt formation. Auburn lost a touchdown against Mercer when a snap sailed over the punter’s head, he picked it up near the goal line and kicked it as he was being tackle. Auburn was called for roughing. It wasn’t much more than a curiosity in a 41-16 game.

The same thing happened Saturday night on a Kentucky snap that sailed over the punter’s head. This time it mattered a lot. It probably cost South Carolina a victory.

A punter should not be protected when he picks the ball up while under duress and manages to punch it out with his foot as he is being tackled. It actually gives a team a benefit for a bad play. It’s ridiculous, really.

">247Sports

[aubiefifty 18,251]

Auburn a slight home favorite against reeling Texas A&M

Published: Nov. 06, 2022, 7:31 p.m.

3-4 minutes

---

Auburn running back Tank Bigsby holds the ball in the end zone after a touchdown during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. Mississippi State won 39-33 in overtime. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)AP

Auburn will be favored in a game for the first time since late September when it hosts Texas A&M on the Plains.

After opening as a slight underdog to the Aggies, according to Circa Sports, Auburn is listed as a slim home favorite for the teams’ Saturday matchup at Jordan-Hare Stadium at various other sportsbooks. The Tigers are two-point favorites against the Aggies, according to Draft Kings, and are listed as one-point favorites, according to BetOnline. FanDuel also lists Auburn as a slight favorite, with the Tigers opening at minus-1.5 points.

Read more Auburn football: Auburn’s reconfigured coaching staff adapts after “bombshell” week

Auburn players share where, how they found out about Bryan Harsin’s firing

Even in defeat, Auburn didn’t blink in Cadillac Williams “special night”

It’s the first time since Sept. 24 against Missouri, in the teams’ SEC opener at Jordan-Hare Stadium, that Auburn has been favored in a game. Auburn has lost each of its last five games since that overtime win against Missouri, the latest a 39-33 overtime road loss to Mississippi State in the team’s first game following last week’s firing of coach Bryan Harsin. The Tigers are 2-3 against the spread during their five-game losing streak.

Saturday’s game between Auburn (3-6, 1-5 SEC) and Texas A&M (3-6, 1-5) is just the fourth time in 10 games this season that the Tigers will be favored. Both the Tigers and Aggies carry five-game losing streaks into the matchup, which is set for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff at Jordan-Hare Stadium, with the game airing on SEC Network.

After entering the season with sky-high expectations, Texas A&M has fallen flat under head coach Jimbo Fisher. The Aggies lost to Appalachian State at home in Week 2, then won back-to-back games against then-ranked Miami and Arkansas before bottoming out over the last five weeks. During that stretch, Texas A&M has lost to Mississippi State, Alabama, South Carolina, Ole Miss and Florida. The Aggies and Tigers are tied for last in the SEC West, and Saturday’s winner will climb out of the division cellar.

The Week 11 matchup on the Plains will mark the 13th all-time meeting between the two schools and the 11th since the Aggies joined the SEC. Texas A&M leads the all-time series, 7-5, but the two programs have split their 10 meetings as conference rivals. The Aggies have won each of the last two games in the series after the Tigers won three in a row from 2017-19.

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

[aubiefifty 18,251]

Auburn’s reconfigured coaching staff adapts after ‘bombshell’ week

Published: Nov. 06, 2022, 2:10 p.m.

7-8 minutes

---

Cadillac Williams looked over to his wife, Evan, and tried to recall the hours of respite he got this week.

Sleep was an estranged friend to Williams and the rest of Auburn’s coaching staff after the upheaval at the top of the program earlier in the week. Bryan Harsin was fired as head coach Monday, ousted after a subpar 21-game tenure, as were six other staff members, including offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Eric Kiesau and tight ends coach Brad Bedell. Williams was tabbed as interim coach, and the rest of Auburn’s offensive assistants reshuffled and added to their roles during a makeshift week of preparation for the Tigers’ game at Mississippi State.

Read more Auburn football: Grading Auburn’s 39-33 loss to Mississippi State, Cadillac Williams’ coaching debut

Auburn players share where, how they found out about Bryan Harsin’s firing

Even in defeat, Auburn didn’t blink in Cadillac Williams “special night”

Williams ran on about six hours of sleep between Monday night and Thursday. He and the rest of the coaching staff, particularly those on the offensive side of the ball, burned the midnight oil at Auburn’s athletics complex, working nightly until 1 or 2 a.m. Williams finally got about four hours of sleep Friday, on the eve of his head coaching debut, after the gameplan was fully in place.

“We were scrambling,” Williams said. “When you practice an offense one way for eight weeks and then you get a bombshell hit on you like that — now you’re trying to coordinate calling it and everything that goes into it.”

Along with Williams’ promotion to interim coach of his alma mater, every remaining member of Auburn’s offensive staff had a new job to do this week. Offensive line coach Will Friend and wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard shared offensive coordinator duties, developing an offensive gameplan together while also navigating a play-sheet and calling an offense that wasn’t inherently theirs.

At one point in the game, when Auburn’s defense was on the field and after a timeout, Friend found a spot behind the injury tent on the Tigers’ sideline and sat down on a cooler, intently poring over the play-sheet, studying it and familiarizing himself with all the calls at his disposal.

With Friend splitting the play-calling assignment with Hilliard, offensive analyst Kendall Simmons assumed the role as offensive line coach. Joe Bernardi took over the tight end room. Mike Hartline oversaw the quarterbacks, and Jeff McDaniels helped out with running backs to ease the load off Williams.

“We lost most of the offensive staff — they got let go,” edge defender Derick Hall said. “Guys had to step up. It’s just like when a player goes down, another player steps up…. Guys stepped up. Coaches stepped up and really prepared us to go out and be successful today. Everybody just stuck together. That was the biggest thing — sticking together and playing for each other this week. And I really feel like we did that tonight.”

The process wasn’t always pretty, but the results provided optimism for a program in need of it. Auburn fell behind by 21 points in the second quarter but rallied, scoring 22 unanswered and twice taking the lead in the fourth quarter against Mississippi State. The Tigers ultimately fell in overtime, 39-33, but considering the circumstances of the game and everything that led up to it, Auburn’s coaching staff adapted admirably on the fly.

The Tigers, who struggled to make second-half adjustments offensively under Harsin, scored 27 second-half points Saturday — their most in the second half of a game this season. Auburn’s 27 points after halftime matched or exceeded the team’s scoring output in six of its previous eight games this year. The team’s rally from down 21 points was also its biggest comeback in a game since erasing a 12-point deficit in a win against Georgia State last week.

“I told them, forget the scoreboard,” Williams said. “We’re going to keep fighting, keep punching.”

Auburn displayed impressive resiliency in the face of adversity, not just with a makeshift offensive gameplan, but with a resolute defensive effort after some early struggles against the Air Raid. After Mississippi State extended its lead to 24-3 on a 92-yard kickoff return touchdown in the second quarter, Auburn’s defense clamped down for much of the rest of the night. The Bulldogs’ next nine possessions included four punts—including three three-and-outs—a turnover on downs, three turnovers and just 64 yards.

Auburn’s three takeaways in its first game after Harsin’s firing were more than the Tigers had in any of Harsin’s 21 games as head coach. It was the first time Auburn forced three turnovers in a game since the 2020 against LSU.

“(Williams) is trying and he’s doing his best — and he’s doing a damn good job,” defensive back Jaylin Simpson said. “I think our performance tonight showed a lot of what he’s been pouring into us. The main message is to serve and believe. We were out there serving, and he’s been pouring his belief into us. We really believed we could win that game. It showed. We didn’t get the results we wanted, but Coach Lac has been doing a real good job.”

Auburn’s hopes of an upset—and what would have been one of the most symbolic, meaningful wins in recent memory—fell short in overtime. Mississippi State kicked a game-tying field goal with 29 seconds to play, and then the Bulldogs walked it off with a touchdown in the extra period to send Auburn to its fifth straight loss.

The Tigers were far from perfect Saturday, with an absent passing game and a slew of special teams miscues, and Williams shouldered the blame for any shortcomings. It wasn’t any delirium from his lack of sleep throughout the week, but rather a heartfelt ownership of his team’s issues during a week of tumult and uncertainty.

“I told these coaches early in the week, when I got named interim head coach, I done been around Auburn; Auburn is about the people within those walls, and in times like this, these kids need our leadership,” Williams said. “They need us, whether they know it or not. They need us, and not just presentation of us just speaking it; our actions got to show. They got to feel that we care for them, and I honestly — the way that we came together, what a rocket week, man.

“For these kids to go out there and play ball like that — man, I’m honored to be those guys’ coach. Truly honored. Wouldn’t want to do it with no other group or coaches than what I just experienced with those guys.”

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

[aubiefifty 18,251]

Mississippi product Derick Hall a menace in final home-state game

Nathan King

5-6 minutes

---

 

STARKVILLE, Mississippi — Even if he did decide to return for a super senior season, Derick Hall still would have played his last game in his home state Saturday.

And his Magnolia State curtain call didn’t disappoint.

In Auburn’s 39-33 overtime loss at Mississippi State, the senior edge rusher was a complete menace, with two sacks — including a strip-sack recovered by Colby Wooden in the second quarter — three tackles for loss in total and a team-high eight tackles on the night.

The Gulf Port, Mississippi, product’s two trips to Starkville in his Auburn career were both productive ones, with four sacks and five TFLs combined.

“It's the last time I'll ever play a ball game in Mississippi,” Hall, a team captain, said postgame. “That really set in with me earlier this week. Other guys may have an opportunity to go back to Georgia … but this is the last game I'll ever play in Mississippi. I just wanted to lay it all on the line for these guys. They did the same for me. I couldn't ask for much more.”

The 6-foot-3 pass-rusher — who’s surely in line for an All-SEC season and an NFL draft selection, now back in a tie second place in the conference with seven sacks and a tie for third with 11 TFLs — halted a Mississippi State drive that had just crossed midfield by strip-sacking quarterback Will Rogers on a third-and-10. It was the second strip-sack of the game for Auburn’s defense, after Jeffrey M'ba smacked Rogers earlier in the quarter for another turnover.

Hall’s big play helped keep Auburn’s confidence growing on defense, as the Tigers kept the Bulldogs from scoring on nine straight possessions after the home team went up 24-3 at the start of the second quarter. Hall later elicited a massive roar from the Auburn fans in Davis Wade Stadium when he laid a huge hit on Rogers for another sack late in the third quarter, immediately following a Robby Ashford touchdown run that brought the Tigers within a score.

Auburn had five sacks on the night, its most this season.

As much as Hall would have preferred to focus only on his last trip back to his home state, he had other responsibilities last week. As a team captain, he was tasked with helping interim coach Cadillac Williams and the staff keep the Tigers focused after Bryan Harsin was fired Monday.

“I've been through a coaching change before with Coach Malzahn, and I know what it's like,” Hall said. “It's tough. But I've never been through it during the middle of the season. It was new waters for all of us. We're all treading new waters. We just came into this thing and believed in Coach 'Lac and his message. The guys just rallied behind us.”

In addition to the two forced fumbles by the defensive line, pressure on Rogers also forced an errant throw at the beginning of the third quarter, when a tipped ball over the middle was picked off by Jaylin Simpson and returned to Mississippi State’s 19-yard line.

Auburn entered the game with just six takeaways on the year, and it generated three turnovers Saturday night, its most in a game this season.

“Tonight it just clicked,” linebacker Barton Lester said of the three turnovers. “I think it was just guys doing their job and playing hard for each other. At the end of the day you saw the fruits of that labor. We just have to build off that and continue it.”

Auburn outscored Mississippi State 27-9 in the second half, including two separate go-ahead touchdowns by the Tigers in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs eventually tied things up to force overtime, though, then won on a walk-off touchdown run after sixth-year Auburn kicker Anders Carlson missed a 38-yard field on the first overtime possession.

“In the locker room, we had a couple of guys who were crying,” Wooden said. “Everybody's spirits were up. We fought. Like, all year, the story of us was that we've gotten up and — no fight. So for us to fight back and take them to the wire, it just shows how we got together as a team. I love these guys. I wouldn't trade them for the world.”

Hall admitted it was a tough loss to swallow, too. But like the Tigers’ interim coach, he was elated with the effort he saw from his team after such a tumultuous week for the program.

“That's all you can ask for,” Hall said. “Obviously, we came up short. But we don't have anything to hang our head about.”

1COMMENTS

*** 60% OFF: Subscribe to Auburn Undercover for the latest news and intel, podcasts, recruiting coverage and more ***

[aubiefifty 18,251]

Impactful plays and takeaways from Auburn’s 39-33 OT loss at Mississippi State

Published: Nov. 06, 2022, 2:46 p.m.

5-7 minutes

---

Auburn was a few plays away from overcoming a 24-3 deficit during Saturday’s 39-33 overtime loss against Mississippi State at Davis Wade Stadium. Tank Bigsby’s 41-yard fourth-quarter touchdown gave Auburn its first lead of the game. Bigsby’s score emphatically punctuated a 22-point run of unanswered points by the Tigers.

Jarquez Hunter scored a touchdown with less than 90 seconds left, giving Auburn a 33-30 lead. The Tigers could’ve folded after Lideatrick Griffin housed an Anders Carlson kickoff for 92 yards with 8:12 remaining in the first half.

“But man, them kids, they didn’t blink. They did not blink. Like, ‘Coach, we got you. Nobody’s quitting. We’re going to continue to serve,” Williams said. “We’re going to continue to bleed. We’re going to continue to fight. We’re going to continue to fight on offense, man.’”

Read More Auburn Football: Auburn players share where they were, how they found out about Bryan Harsin’s firing

Even in defeat, Auburn didn’t blink in Cadillac Williams “special night”

Goodman: Excruciating theater on a Saturday in the South

Carlson’s 27-yard field goal leading to the kickoff felt like a significant loss for the Tigers. The reason why leads to one of several essential plays in the heartbreaking loss for Auburn.

Mississippi State 17 Auburn 0 2nd and 10 ball on MSU 26 2nd QTR 12:34

It got ugly fast for Auburn. The Tigers had 29 yards in the first quarter, five passing, and 24 rushing yards against the Bulldogs. Will Rogers had 139 passing yards in the same quarter with a touchdown and got his second of the game early in the second frame.

Auburn needed a break, and it got one when Jeffery M’Ba sacked Rogers, and Dylan Brooks recovered the fumble created by M’Ba. The Tigers got the ball at the Bulldog’s eight-yard line. A touchdown puts the Tigers back in the game instantly. Instead, the drive stalled, which led to another play that didn’t go Auburn’s way.

Mississippi State 17 Auburn 0 2nd and Goal ball on MSU 10 2nd QTR 11:03

Jeremiah Wright gets called for a blindside block and targeting on the run for three yards by starting quarterback Robby Ashford. The refs reviewed the targeting and rescinded it, but the 15-yard penalty for the blindside block remained. Auburn went from having the ball on the seven-yard line to third down on the 25-yard line.

Another issue for Auburn was the fourth down situation. Ashford had a 15-yard run on third down, and it appeared the offense was going to go for it. But the team got called for a delay of game. Williams attempted to call a timeout, but the play clock ran down. Auburn kicked the field goal, 17-3, before the 90-plus-yard kickoff return.

Mississippi State 24 Auburn 6 2nd and 14 on MSU 20 3rd QTR 10:18

Auburn failed to score on the first drive of the second half. A comeback seemed bleak until Auburn’s special teams made a big play. Barton Lester and Sean Jackson tackled the Bulldog punter after a fumbled snap. Auburn’s offense got the ball at the Bulldog’s 16-yard line.

Ashford capitalized on the opportunity for his first of two touchdown runs. The Tigers couldn’t convert the two-point attempt, but 24-12 felt much more hopeful.

Ashford’s score on 3rd and three from the Bulldog’s 18 at the 4:18 mark in the third quarter brought Auburn within striking distance at 24-19.

-- Williams will have a lot to feel good about when it comes to Auburn’s effort in his first game as the Tigers, interim head coach. However, there will be lots of work to do when the team reconvenes on Monday for practice to prepare for Texas A&M. The Tigers had 14 penalties for 115 yards, even if you take away the questionable call on Wright for the blindside block, he had another personal foul that was a no-doubter in the second half. Auburn can’t afford to give away yards on silly penalties.

-- Auburn rushed for 256 yards and held MSU to 13 yards. However, Rogers threw for 375 yards compared to Ashford’s 75 on 7-22 passing. Ashford discussed Auburn’s dedication to running the ball despite trailing by 18 points at halftime.

“You kind of saw the conditions,” Ashford said. “The ball’s slippery. Which a lot of people don’t know because you can’t really tell, but with that kind of weird rain, the ground’s wet, so center’s got the ball; he’s not trying to make it slick, but you get it, and it’s wet, so our pass game just wasn’t great, but you’ve got to give cred to Mississippi State’s defense, too. They played great. When you know, you can run the ball, and when you have running backs like what we have, you’ve gotta give those guys the ball. Auburn’s known for running the football, so it was kind of just (a) slick football. Everything around it leveled us to know, ‘OK, we’ve got to pound it.’”

-- Auburn’s willingness to adapt showed during the game, but it started on Monday when Harsin departed the program. Fans might’ve been fed up with Harsin, but having to change so much with four weeks left in the season is challenging for the players and staff members who are impacted beyond three and a half hours on Saturdays in southern football stadiums.

“You know, you all have no idea the week—I know you’ve seen what happened,” Williams said, “But you have no idea the week that we just had with the lack of preparation because what went down on Monday and a couple things throughout the week that went on.”

Nubyjas Wilborn covers Auburn for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nwilborn19

[aubiefifty 18,251]

 

[aubiefifty 18,251]

Watch: What’s next for Auburn football recruiting after Bryan Harsin?

• Published: Nov. 07, 2022, 10:15 a.m.

Auburn Tigers Recruiting on AL.com | What's next after Harsin?; Keys for Cadillac?

 

 

 

NEW!

 

By

• Nick Alvarez | nalvarez@al.com

It’s the start of something new for Auburn football. The Tigers are in the Cadillac Williams era, following a tumultuous tenure for Bryan Harsin.

 

AL.com broke down the 2023 cycle and Williams’ goals for 2024. Watch reporter Nick Alvarez and social media producer Patrick Greenfield discuss the latest news. What’s next for recruiting on the Plains? Who are the key players to hold onto in this class? Why is Williams, an Auburn legend, the right fit for this moment?

Sponsored by Inline Lighting, the Auburn Recruiting Show on AL.com will occur live throughout the season on our social media channels. If you have a recruiting question re: any targets, strategies or flips, please email us at nalvarez@al.com or drop them in the show comment section. Click here for our last show. Thanks for tuning in!

 

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at NAlvarez@al.com.

 

 

Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) is a digital sports & social media producer for AL.com based out of Birmingham.

[aubiefifty 18,251]

Kickoff time, TV network set for Auburn’s home finale against WKU

Published: Nov. 07, 2022, 12:12 p.m.

2 minutes

---

Auburn running back Tank Bigsby celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Arkansas during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)AP

Auburn will close out its 2022 home slate with an afternoon matchup against Western Kentucky on Nov. 19.

The SEC announced kickoff times and television network designations for Week 12 of the season. Auburn’s home tilt against WKU in the Tigers’ penultimate regular-season game will kick off at 3 p.m. at Jordan-Hare Stadium and will be broadcast on SEC Network.

Read more Auburn football: What’s next for Auburn football recruiting after Bryan Harsin?

Auburn’s turnover margin trending in right direction, finally

Watch Cadillac Williams’ heartfelt postgame locker-room speech after Auburn’s loss to Mississippi State

Auburn is 3-3 at home this season, with wins against Mercer, San Jose State and Missouri. The team has lost home games to Penn State, LSU and Arkansas. It will host Texas A&M this weekend before next week’s home finale against the Hilltoppers. WKU (6-4) will host Rice this weekend before traveling to the Plains.

Auburn and Western Kentucky have met just two prior times in program history, with the Tigers winning each of those matchups, the first in 2003 and the other in 2005. Auburn’s average margin of victory in those two games is 34 points.

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

[aubiefifty 18,251]