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Things haven’t exactly gone according to plan for Auburn this season.
In a season in which they hoped to compete for an SEC West title (and more), the Tigers (4-4, 1-4 SEC) will try to pick up the pieces — and avoid a third-straight loss — when they visit Texas A&M on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, SECN).
Last week’s 27-19 loss at Ole Miss was a particularly bitter pill for Auburn, which had its chances to pull the upset.
The Aggies, on the other hand, are coming off a strong debut for freshman quarterback Kyler Murray in a 35-28 win over South Carolina.
That win stopped a two-game skid for the Aggies (6-2, 3-2), and while those losses to Alabama and Ole Miss likely doomed their chances to win the SEC West, they still have plenty left to achieve this season.
Murray, after taking the job away from Kyle Allen, and true freshman receiver Christian Kirk lead a high-powered offense, which averages around 32 points per game.
While it’s not really a surprise that a Kevin Sumlin-coached team has success on offense, the Texas A&M defense has, for most of the season, been a bit better than expected.
Standout defensive ends Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall spark a fearsome pass rush for the Aggies. Garrett is 2nd in the nation with 10.5 sacks while Hall has 6 of his own under first-year defensive coordinator John Chavis.
His defense has forced 15 turnovers this season, often setting the offense up with good field position.
Auburn has done a pretty good job protecting Jeremy Johnson and Sean White, allowing only 14 sacks in its eight games.
Dealing with an injured knee, White will likely be slightly less mobile than usual. If he starts, and at press time there’s no reason to think that he won’t, keeping Garrett and Hall away from him will be absolutely critical for the Tigers.
TEXAS A&M AGGIES CLOSER LOOK
Top player, offense: Kyler Murray, Fr. QB — Before he ever made a college start, Murray had the resume. He was one of the nation’s best recruits in the Class of 2014, winning three straight state titles while never losing a game as a starter in high school. Well, he’s now 1-0 as a starter on this level after last week’s coming-out party against the Gamecocks.
Murray ran for 156 yards and a score while putting up 223 yards and a touchdown through the air last week. South Carolina’s defense has been much-maligned this season — and rightly so — but coming into this game, it’s Auburn that ranks last in the SEC in total defense, allowing 447 yards per game. After allowing a season-high 558 yards to Ole Miss last week, the Tigers need to pick it up defensively, and fast.
Top player, defense: Myles Garrett, So. DE — In August, Chavis touted Garrett and Hall as the nation’s best defensive end pairing. Both have lived up to the hype, but it’s Garrett that has taken his game to another level. He had 2 sacks against South Carolina, but he’s more than just a pass rusher. His 44 tackles rank as 5th-best on the team. He almost certainly demands a double-team, which is a problem on the other side where Hall has to be left one-on-one. Keeping the Aggies’ ends in check may be the biggest key for this game.
Top player, special teams: Taylor Bertolet, Sr. K — Bertolet got off to a fast start this season, making 9 of his first 11 field goal attempts. But he has faded a bit recently. He didn’t convert his only attempt last week and has missed at least one kick in four of his last five games. However, he is perfect on 27 extra-point tries.
Randy Capps is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, South Carolina and Georgia.
