Auburn football lost 24-14 to No. 17 Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Neyland Stadium. Alex Golesh’s return to Rocky Top didn’t deliver the desired result. Auburn’s offense struggled out of the gate, its defense couldn’t stop Tennessee’s running back, and the coaching staff drew sharp criticism. Here is how each part of the team fared.
What Happened on the Field
The biggest problem was the offense. Auburn’s unit continued to struggle getting started, even though it showed signs of life later in the game. Comebacks are admirable, but Yahoo Sports’s report card points out that starting strong might change the record entirely. The Tigers kept falling behind early and had to play catch-up throughout.
The defense had a similar issue. For the second time in three SEC games, one ballcarrier made an outsized impact. This time it was Tennessee’s DeSean Bishop, who ran wild. The report card notes that Bishop outdid Jadan Baugh, the standout who tore up this defense in a previous outing. The question raised is whether this unit is what everyone expected it to be.
Special teams held steady. Hudson Kaak did his best to keep Auburn in the field position battle, especially as both offenses stumbled early. He wasn’t miserable, but he was certainly outshined by Tennessee punter Jackson Ross. The report card grades him a C.
The Coaching Call
The coaching staff drew the lowest mark of the night. The report card points to procedural penalties, scripted drives stalling out, and a late fourth-down decision as areas where Auburn’s leadership left plenty to be desired. It was hard to feel inspired by Auburn’s performance on the headset against Tennessee.
The report card also raises the question of execution. Between procedural penalties, scripted drives stalling out and that late fourth-down decision, Auburn’s coaching staff left plenty to be desired. The takeaway is that the problems run deeper than simple mistakes.
The Grades
- Offense: D+
- Defense: D
- Special Teams: C
- Coaches: D-
- Final Grade: D-
The report card notes that on paper, it’s another one-score loss to a ranked opponent. That itself doesn’t teeter on abject failure, but the continual problems on offense and defense pose concern, especially with what lies ahead.
What This Means for Auburn
Auburn’s record is not yet decided, but the pattern is clear. The offense struggles to start games, the defense gets exposed by one player, and the coaching staff makes questionable decisions. Those issues have shown up repeatedly this season.
The report card does not mince words. The D- overall grade reflects a team that keeps finding ways to lose close games. The one-score losses keep coming, and the problems keep repeating.
The final word is that the continual problems on offense and defense pose concern, especially with what lies ahead. Auburn has a difficult path remaining, and the pattern of losing close games against ranked opponents suggests the road will not get easier.
“Doesn’t it stand to reason that if Auburn could start as well as it finishes, its record may look a little different?”
That line sums up the whole situation. Auburn knows how to finish strong, but it can’t seem to start at all. The report card’s verdict is clear.
Auburn’s offense needs to start faster, its defense needs to contain ballcarriers better, and its coaching staff needs to make smarter decisions. The loss to Tennessee is a setback, not a disaster. But the pattern is troubling, and the questions the report card raises about the coaching staff’s ability to execute deserve answers before the season goes any further.
The report card is a blunt instrument, and it delivers its verdict clearly. Auburn has the pieces to compete, but the way those pieces fit together keeps coming apart at the worst moments.
Source material: “How did Auburn football fare against Tennessee? Our report card,” Yahoo Sports.
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