Final Week Seven Thoughts from Auburn and Across the Land
It was a weekend of college football filled with upsets. To paraphrase legendary Tennessee Volunteer announcer John Ward, pandemonium reigned. Nowhere was the theme of the day on brighter display than between the hedges in Athens, Georgia. The unranked and prohibitive underdog Auburn Tigers strolled into Sanford Stadium, given little to no chance of winning by anyone other than the men in the visitor’s locker room, and stunned the nation’s number one team 27-24. It was not a fluke either. Auburn ran the ball better, stopped the run better, and won the turnover battle 3-0. The team that does that often wins and deserves to win. It was the first time since 2005 that the Tigers, and their ever loyal fans, left Athens tasting the sweet nectar of victory.
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It was not a great start for Auburn, falling behind 14-0 after the first two Bulldog drives. The feeling of impending doom was surely palpable for Auburn fans that had seen this particular horror movie before. But Alex Golesh’s squad is not built to fold. They are process oriented. Play the next play. Then play the next. The scoreboard does not matter. Sure enough, after the Tigers’ opening drive of the second half, that scoreboard read Auburn 24, Georgia 14. Unsurprisingly, the home team showed their championship mettle by coming back to tie the game. Auburn continued to play the next play. The defense forced a late fumble from Georgia Quarterback Gunner Stockton and moved the football into field goal range for Alex McPherson.
His kick was true, and the celebration began. That celebration continued back in Auburn, when the team made a stop at Toomer’s Corner and joined the revelers there. It would be impossible not to be happy for McPherson. He has endured more sickness and adversity than most could imagine. I do not think even one of his teammates doubted that the kick was landing in the net between the uprights.
In all likelihood, this is a game the previous two head coaches would not have won, or even kept close, after falling behind by two early touchdowns. Golesh instills belief in his players, and his players believe in him and his process. It was obvious to all in his postgame remarks that Golesh is a coach who cares about Auburn and returning the Tigers to their former glory. On a picturesque day in north Georgia, they took a step in that direction. Lane Kiffin and LSU are up next.
The 40 acres was the site of another upset on Saturday. The Texas Longhorns returned home after suffering a heartbreaking loss to rival Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl. The Florida Gators limped into Austin after face-planting in back-to-back blowout losses. The Gators were also without starting quarterback Aaron Philo, who was nursing a shoulder injury. Jon Sumrall’s team shook off an early 10-0 deficit to beat Texas 27-24. Florida enters its bye week before heading to Atlanta to take on what figures to be a hopping mad Georgia team, who also have a bye this week. There is no rest for Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns. They play red hot Ole Miss this Saturday.
For the third time in three meetings, Tennessee defended Rocky Top against their rivals from Tuscaloosa. Josh Heupel’s offense continued to struggle, managing just four field goals in the first half, despite many scoring opportunities. However, the Vol defense is the real deal. They held Alabama and Keelon Russell’s group to only 10 points on the afternoon. The Crimson Tide had been averaging over 44 points a game coming in. Tennessee pulled away for a relatively easy 26-10 win.
Auburn’s next opponent, LSU, righted the ship as they shutout Mississippi State 31-0. The Bulldogs were without star quarterback Kamario Taylor but credit to Lane Kiffin’s team for taking care of business in a game they could not afford to lose. It will be an 11:00 am kick at Jordan-Hare Stadium this week, as Auburn and LSU renew their rivalry after a couple years off. Auburn’s last win in the rivalry was 2021.
Ohio State earned their biggest win of the year this weekend. They traveled to Bloomington to take on the defending National Champion Indiana Hoosiers, winners of 22 straight. The Buckeyes dominated the game from the start, building a 19-7 lead. Indiana then staged yet another late-game comeback. Trailing 19-15, the Hoosiers had a chance to win it in the final minute. Facing 4th and 4 at Ohio State’s 27, star wide receiver Nick Marsh found himself all alone near the Buckeye end zone. But quarterback Josh Hoover’s pass sailed a bit wide, and Marsh’s lead foot landed just out of bounds, allowing Ohio State to escape with the win. Ryan Day’s team gets a bye this week, before heading cross country to take on Lincoln Riley’s USC Trojans. Indiana goes to the Big House this week.
Out in Provo, Utah, the BYU Cougars earned one of their biggest wins since being voted the 1984 national champions. The second-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish fell behind 21-10 at the half. Marcus Freeman’s team scored 14 unanswered points to take the lead late in the fourth quarter. BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier then answered, with his fourth touchdown of the night. Notre Dame’s last ditch effort ended with a CJ Carr incomplete pass in the Cougar end zone that came with plenty of controversy. First, wide receiver Jaden Greathouse appeared to have been interfered with by BYU defensive back Evan Johnson. Even worse, the Big 12 admitted that the replay officials erred because there was one second on the clock when the pass hit the ground. Notre Dame was entitled to another play. The Big 12 promises a review. That’s nice. College football now has a second one-second problem this season. College football also has a competence and failure of accountability problem regarding its officials.
Down on south beach, it was an exciting double overtime affair between Florida State and Miami. That was shocking in itself given how poorly the Seminoles have played for most of this season. The game came down to a fourth down in the second overtime. Former Auburn Quarterback Ashton Daniels sailed a Hail Mary pass into the end zone which found the hands of Micahi Danzy for an apparent touchdown. A dubious holding penalty called on former Auburn offensive tackle Xavier Chaplin wiped it off the board. Then, facing 4th and 31 at the 46, Daniels again launched another Hail Mary to the end zone. It appeared that Florida State may have secured the catch as Duce Robinson appeared to have simultaneous possession of the ball with Miami defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald. However, officials ruled an interception for Miami on the field and replay upheld the call. Time will tell how a gutsy effort in a loss will affect Mike Norvell’s future in Tallahassee.
Other headlines
· Bill Belichick wins the Victory Bell as his North Carolina Tar Heels defeat Duke 20-17.
· Ryan Silverfield’s Hogs go into Nashville and get a much needed upset win over Clark Lea’s Vanderbilt team.
· Kentucky stays hot by icing their game against Oklahoma with a pick six of struggling Sooner quarterback John Mateer. The Sooners fail to capitalize on their big win over Texas a week earlier.
· Kansas State wins their 18th in a row over their rivals from Lawrence.
· Michigan benches quarterback Bryce Underwood and defeats Penn State in the Big House in a forgettable 21-18 contest.
· North Dakota State bounced back in the Fargo Dome using their own version of a “Kick Six” to defeat Nevada 31-17 and become bowl eligible.
· Another heartbreaking loss for Matt Rhule’s Nebraska Cornhuskers. A week after blowing a 17-6 lead to Indiana, they lose in the final 28 seconds to Oregon. Oregon trailed 14-6 in the fourth quarter but comeback to win 17-14.
Auburn Undercover is an independent Auburn sports media company covering Auburn athletics, recruiting and insider news.
