FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt connects Auburn's scuffling to Big 12 team's improvement

All is not well on the Plains right now.

Auburn entered Saturday with the No. 8 ranking. The Tigers lost 9-23 to Mississippi State. Before the clock hit all zeros in Starkville, Miss., fans and critics alike had taken to social media questioning AU coach Gus Malzahn’s offensive guru reputation and why the school had given him a lengthy extension with a substantial salary.

On Sunday, Associated Press Top 25 voters dropped the Tigers all the way to No. 21. Various power rankings and metric ratings also visibly soured on Auburn.

FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt has a theory why Auburn is moving in the wrong direction while a Big 12 team climbs the polls. He says it’s all about Herb Hand.

As @AuburnFootball seems to lose the ability to run the ball and @TexasFootball seems to gain traction up front it is easy to point to the one constant…Herb Hand left Auburn and joined Texas this offseason as OL coach (10th assistant)

— Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) October 7, 2018

Texas hired Hand away from Auburn this offseason. In Klatt’s view, the Longhorns offensive line is improving under his coaching while Auburn’s offensive line is struggling to open up running lanes.