Mark my words: Auburn will never win a championship with Ellis Johnson as defensive coordinator.

In the span of two weeks, the Tigers have fallen from college football’s No. 3 team, a team that had a stranglehold on one of the four College Football Playoff spots to No. 14 and a team hoping to win out and somehow earn a bid to a New Year’s Six bowl game.

Why can’t Auburn plug the leak?

It can’t stop an opposing offense.

Ellis Johnson’s unit is in the midst of a historically bad stretch. For the first time in school history, the Tigers have allowed 30 or more points in five straight games.

In Gus Malzahn’s first season on the job, Auburn allowed 30 or more points in two straight games once.

Consider Auburn’s 2010 championship season. The Ted Roof-led defense allowed 368.4 yards of total offense per game and 24.1 points per game.

How about the Tigers’ near championship run in 2013? Auburn allowed 420.7 yards of total offense per game and 24.7 points per game.

There’s precedent for Auburn being a very good team — a championship caliber team, in fact — with an average-to-below average defense. The difference, however, is that the 2010 defense and the 2013 defense had dominant players.

In 2010 there was Josh Bynes, Zac Etheridge, Antoine Carter, Nosa Eguae and Corey Lemonier. Oh, and who could forget Nick Fairley? The Tigers’ front seven was dominant, totaling 99 tackles for loss and 35 sacks.

In 2013, the Tigers were led by Eguae again, along with Dee Ford. Johnson’s defense gave up yards between the 20s, but its red zone defense ranked near the top of college football. Auburn played with a “bend but don’t break” mentality last season.

Yes, Auburn won the SEC last season with Johnson heading up the defense. The SEC Championship game was more about the Tigers outscoring Missouri than Johnson’s defense having an answer for James Franklin, Dorial Green-Beckham and company. Mizzou did put up 42 points and 534 yards of total offense. The Tigers allowed 34 points in the BCS National Championship game and late touchdown drives brought Florida State from behind to win.

The current play of the defense is the worst Auburn has seen under any head coach ever. No Auburn team dating back to 1951 has given up 30 points or more in more than three straight games.

The regression is especially startling considering Johnson’s defense looked to be one of the most improved in the SEC, if not the country, at the start of the season.

Auburn began the season ranked in the top-20 nationally in several categories, including rush defense and red zone defense. Beginning with the 38-23 loss at Mississippi State, however, the Tigers have allowed at least 400 yards of total offense in each game.

Johnson acknowledged to hearing the criticism earlier this week to reporters, as did Malzahn.

Will a change be made this offseason?

That question has become more pressing, especially in the light of Will Muschamp’s dismissal from Florida. Johnson is under contract for two more seasons, and Auburn would be required to pay the remainder of his $850,000 salary in full, reports AL.com’s Brandon Marcello.

The pressure is on, however.

Auburn has two weeks to fix its gaping holes on the defensive side of the football.

Otherwise, those high expectations Malzahn referenced after the loss to Georgia may never be realized and Johnson will enter the offseason in a very uncomfortable position.