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Auburn might drop completely out of the Top 25 after this loss. And maybe they should.
It didn't have to be pretty.
It didn't have to be convincing.
It didn't have to be anything except a win.
This was the most pivotal game of Auburn's season, and the Tigers stumbled and fumbled the season away.
There were so many chances. That's the frustrating thing about this Auburn offense. There are glimpses of something better, shadows of hope, rumors of talent.
There was a time not too long ago when Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham was considered a better quarterback than Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Crazy but true.
Tua had four touchdown passes in the first half on Saturday against Arkansas. Stidham has five touchdown passes through six games.
The regression of Auburn's quarterback since his game-winning drive against Washington is striking. Is Stidham even better than Florida's Feleipe Franks at this point?
The game started with Auburn staring at a chance to get back into contention for the SEC West crown. LSU's loss to Florida just before kickoff in Starkville put Auburn closer to once again controlling its own destiny. It only took two drives of Auburn's offense to know the truth, though.
This offense is a fraud.
And Auburn's defense? The Tigers couldn't even control a newborn puppy at Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday. Never mind an angry Bulldog named Nick Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald, State's tough-as-dirt quarterback, knew what needed to be done against Auburn. He had to sacrifice his body for the win. He did it, rushing for 195 yards on 28 carries and two touchdowns.
His first rushing touchdown came on a crucial fourth-and-1 play at the goal line at the end of the second quarter. With time expiring in the half, Fitzgerald smashed through a pair of Auburn defenders.
He bulldozed his way through Auburn's defense throughout the second half. Right up the middle. Every time. He then skipped into the end zone to give Mississippi State its game-clinching touchdown.
Stidham matched Fitzgerald's rushes with one overthrown pass after another.
The play calling was there. Malzahn and offensive coordinator Chip Lindsay drew up a few plays that should have been easy touchdowns. But Stidham couldn't connect.
He badly overthrew Darius Slayton in the first half on a trick play so perfect that Slayton was 20 yards wide open. Slayton was again wide open in the end zone with 11:39 left in the fourth quarter, but Stidham's pass was too high and Slayton had it knocked away trying get his toes inbounds.
Auburn had to settle for a field goal when it needed a touchdown.
Sometimes a season can come down to one play.
There were so many that went against Auburn here in Starkville, but the fumble by Auburn running back Boobee Whitlow felt like the killer. Whitlow lost possession while reaching for the goal line after a brilliant 41-yard rush that looked like it might just save a game and maybe Auburn's championship hopes in the process.
The play was ruled a fumble on the field. Was he in? The replay was inconclusive. The verdict is not.
Auburn overbilled itself this season, and probably overpaid its coach, too.
Overpaid coach, overbilled team is the Auburn story
It didn't have to be pretty.
It didn't have to be convincing.
It didn't have to be anything except a win.
This was the most pivotal game of Auburn's season, and the Tigers stumbled and fumbled the season away.
There were so many chances. That's the frustrating thing about this Auburn offense. There are glimpses of something better, shadows of hope, rumors of talent.
There was a time not too long ago when Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham was considered a better quarterback than Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Crazy but true.
Tua had four touchdown passes in the first half on Saturday against Arkansas. Stidham has five touchdown passes through six games.
The regression of Auburn's quarterback since his game-winning drive against Washington is striking. Is Stidham even better than Florida's Feleipe Franks at this point?
The game started with Auburn staring at a chance to get back into contention for the SEC West crown. LSU's loss to Florida just before kickoff in Starkville put Auburn closer to once again controlling its own destiny. It only took two drives of Auburn's offense to know the truth, though.
This offense is a fraud.
And Auburn's defense? The Tigers couldn't even control a newborn puppy at Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday. Never mind an angry Bulldog named Nick Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald, State's tough-as-dirt quarterback, knew what needed to be done against Auburn. He had to sacrifice his body for the win. He did it, rushing for 195 yards on 28 carries and two touchdowns.
His first rushing touchdown came on a crucial fourth-and-1 play at the goal line at the end of the second quarter. With time expiring in the half, Fitzgerald smashed through a pair of Auburn defenders.
He bulldozed his way through Auburn's defense throughout the second half. Right up the middle. Every time. He then skipped into the end zone to give Mississippi State its game-clinching touchdown.
Stidham matched Fitzgerald's rushes with one overthrown pass after another.
The play calling was there. Malzahn and offensive coordinator Chip Lindsay drew up a few plays that should have been easy touchdowns. But Stidham couldn't connect.
He badly overthrew Darius Slayton in the first half on a trick play so perfect that Slayton was 20 yards wide open. Slayton was again wide open in the end zone with 11:39 left in the fourth quarter, but Stidham's pass was too high and Slayton had it knocked away trying get his toes inbounds.
Auburn had to settle for a field goal when it needed a touchdown.
Sometimes a season can come down to one play.
There were so many that went against Auburn here in Starkville, but the fumble by Auburn running back Boobee Whitlow felt like the killer. Whitlow lost possession while reaching for the goal line after a brilliant 41-yard rush that looked like it might just save a game and maybe Auburn's championship hopes in the process.
The play was ruled a fumble on the field. Was he in? The replay was inconclusive. The verdict is not.
Auburn overbilled itself this season, and probably overpaid its coach, too.
Overpaid coach, overbilled team is the Auburn story
