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Losing the Iron Bowl always hurts. Losing by four touchdowns hurts even more.
The obvious truth is Auburn simply was not good to win. No. 1 Alabama treated the Tigers the same way they’ve treated everyone else.
There was never any doubt Alabama was going to score points. To have any chance Auburn had to be sharp on offense, and it wasn’t. Alabama’s defense had a lot to do with that. Auburn couldn’t run the ball when it still mattered. Injuries on the offensive line and running back Tank Bigsby being far from full-speed had something to do with that.
Williams dropped a sure touchdown pass on a terrific throw by quarterback Bo Nix. He might have had another opportunity had an Alabama defender not grabbed his undershirt. Nothing was called. Alabama was vulnerable on defense earlier in the season, but it sure didn’t look vulnerable Saturday, at least not until the game had been decided.
Going into the game, Auburn was the only SEC team that had not given up more than 30 points in a game. That’s over now. Auburn’s defense did a decent job for most of the day against Alabama’s running game, but it had no answer for the passing game. Quarterback Mac Jones’ five touchdown passes and Devonte Smith’s seven catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns attest to that.
What does it all mean? That’s the question of the day.
No matter how good Alabama is, being blown out in the Iron Bowl is not a good idea. Tommy Tuberville, who had won six straight Iron Bowls, lost 36-0 at Alabama in 2008 and was soon gone. Gene Chizik survived a 42-14 loss to Alabama at home in 2011, but that was one season after he won a national championship. He didn’t survive a 49-0 loss at Alabama a year later. Auburn coach Gus Malzahn survived an effort to make a change after losing 52-21 on his last trip to Tuscaloosa in 2018.
Auburn, a 24-point underdog, needed to at least look like it belonged. It didn’t. Malzahn has beaten Nick Saban-coached Alabama teams three times. That’s more than any other coach, but on its last two trips to Bryant-Denny Stadium, Auburn has been outscored 93-34. At the least, Malzahn, near the end of eighth season, is going to take some serious heat. Will it come from those who have something to say about his future?
This strange season isn’t over yet. Auburn plays Texas A&M at home next Saturday and at Mississippi State the following week. Will Auburn players be able to pick themselves up in time for another serious challenge? It bears remembering that Texas A&M had a similar experience at Alabama, losing 52-24.
Like it or not, fair or not, the noise is going to get louder. Is Malzahn’s job safe? If it is, athletics director Allen Greene or president Jay Gogue should say so, and soon. With national signing day weeks away, with players all but assured of being free to transfer without penalty, a delay can only hurt. Waiting to see what happens the rest of the season makes no sense.
If the belief is that Malzahn is the man to lead Auburn football into the future, one bad loss with a wounded offense to the No. 1 team in the nation shouldn’t change that. If the belief is that he is not, what happens against Texas A&M and Mississippi State shouldn’t be a factor. For better or worse, Malzahn will be the same coach a month from now that he is today.
MORE THOUGHTS:
--Finally, in the fourth quarter with most of Alabama’s starters still in the game on defense, Auburn mounted 96-yard drive for the first touchdown against the Tide defense in 14 quarters. Little used running back Mark-Antony Richards was a key in that drive and led Auburn in rushing with 57 yards on 14 carries, which is sure to also raise some questions.
--This season’s Alabama team is the best I’ve seen. No team in college football has as many weapons in as many places.
--Steele went into the game with the mission of keeping the top on the coverage and not giving up big plays. Big plays turned out to be what broke the game open.
--If Auburn can beat Texas A&M at home and Mississippi State on the road to finish 7-3, that will be a good season. Not great, but good.
The obvious truth is Auburn simply was not good to win. No. 1 Alabama treated the Tigers the same way they’ve treated everyone else.
There was never any doubt Alabama was going to score points. To have any chance Auburn had to be sharp on offense, and it wasn’t. Alabama’s defense had a lot to do with that. Auburn couldn’t run the ball when it still mattered. Injuries on the offensive line and running back Tank Bigsby being far from full-speed had something to do with that.
Williams dropped a sure touchdown pass on a terrific throw by quarterback Bo Nix. He might have had another opportunity had an Alabama defender not grabbed his undershirt. Nothing was called. Alabama was vulnerable on defense earlier in the season, but it sure didn’t look vulnerable Saturday, at least not until the game had been decided.
Going into the game, Auburn was the only SEC team that had not given up more than 30 points in a game. That’s over now. Auburn’s defense did a decent job for most of the day against Alabama’s running game, but it had no answer for the passing game. Quarterback Mac Jones’ five touchdown passes and Devonte Smith’s seven catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns attest to that.
What does it all mean? That’s the question of the day.
No matter how good Alabama is, being blown out in the Iron Bowl is not a good idea. Tommy Tuberville, who had won six straight Iron Bowls, lost 36-0 at Alabama in 2008 and was soon gone. Gene Chizik survived a 42-14 loss to Alabama at home in 2011, but that was one season after he won a national championship. He didn’t survive a 49-0 loss at Alabama a year later. Auburn coach Gus Malzahn survived an effort to make a change after losing 52-21 on his last trip to Tuscaloosa in 2018.
Auburn, a 24-point underdog, needed to at least look like it belonged. It didn’t. Malzahn has beaten Nick Saban-coached Alabama teams three times. That’s more than any other coach, but on its last two trips to Bryant-Denny Stadium, Auburn has been outscored 93-34. At the least, Malzahn, near the end of eighth season, is going to take some serious heat. Will it come from those who have something to say about his future?
This strange season isn’t over yet. Auburn plays Texas A&M at home next Saturday and at Mississippi State the following week. Will Auburn players be able to pick themselves up in time for another serious challenge? It bears remembering that Texas A&M had a similar experience at Alabama, losing 52-24.
Like it or not, fair or not, the noise is going to get louder. Is Malzahn’s job safe? If it is, athletics director Allen Greene or president Jay Gogue should say so, and soon. With national signing day weeks away, with players all but assured of being free to transfer without penalty, a delay can only hurt. Waiting to see what happens the rest of the season makes no sense.
If the belief is that Malzahn is the man to lead Auburn football into the future, one bad loss with a wounded offense to the No. 1 team in the nation shouldn’t change that. If the belief is that he is not, what happens against Texas A&M and Mississippi State shouldn’t be a factor. For better or worse, Malzahn will be the same coach a month from now that he is today.
MORE THOUGHTS:
--Finally, in the fourth quarter with most of Alabama’s starters still in the game on defense, Auburn mounted 96-yard drive for the first touchdown against the Tide defense in 14 quarters. Little used running back Mark-Antony Richards was a key in that drive and led Auburn in rushing with 57 yards on 14 carries, which is sure to also raise some questions.
--This season’s Alabama team is the best I’ve seen. No team in college football has as many weapons in as many places.
--Steele went into the game with the mission of keeping the top on the coverage and not giving up big plays. Big plays turned out to be what broke the game open.
--If Auburn can beat Texas A&M at home and Mississippi State on the road to finish 7-3, that will be a good season. Not great, but good.
