The end of the month of October proves to be another week where the Auburn Tigers seek a bounce-back performance from the week prior. That accomplishment will not come easy on the road against the Ole Miss Rebels, but when does it truly ever come easy.
The Tigers enter Saturday having lost 38-17 to LSU in their most recent outing, a game that saw them give up more than 500 total yards of offense and only have 67 yards on the ground.
The Rebels are seeking to gather another win as well, as Pete Golding’s squad is also coming off of a loss of its own to the Texas Longhorns 34-27.
This year’s meeting is the first time since 2023 that Auburn and Ole Miss will face off, and the first time inside of Vaught Hemingway Stadium since 2022.
With another traditional matchup on Halloween about to get going for both sides, there is a lot riding for both teams when they take the field.
Here are some keys to victory whe the Tigers and Rebels kick off on Saturday.
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Auburn Tigers:
Be successful in running the football
Auburn is currently No. 8 in the SEC in average rushing yards per game. Ole Miss is ranked dead last in the conference in rush defense. You may be able to see where this point is going. The Tigers have not had the rushing production they had hoped from their running backs this season, but if there is a game to be able to get it going and have some success, Saturday will be the day to do it.
The issue for Auburn lies in the fact that the Rebels are likely to try and load the box if they suspect a run, and against LSU last week, the Tigers rush attack was severely limited in what it could do. The solution comes from being able to be creative and find space outside the tackles, which Auburn did against Georgia two games ago. Being able to expand the field as much as possible stands a chance to help in the long run, especially in a game where the Tigers will need everything working.
Keep Trinidad Chambliss limited as long as you can
It is no secret that Ole Miss starting quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is one of the best signal callers in the nation, if not the best. Chambliss will get his plays as he has all season, but the question remains of what Auburn can do to try and stop him, especially with a defense that is 14th in pass yards given up per game.
There are two things that can help. One of them is not allowing him to escape the pocket. Chambliss’ game is one that gets better the more he creates, allowing him to find open receivers or running room to gain first downs. The other is keeping him on the sidelines, which comes from the offense being able to extend drives for the Tigers. That is something that did not happen last week with seven drives ending in punts with a handful of three-and-outs. Being able to do those two things is paramount in order to limit the Rebels’ production.
Ole Miss Rebels:
Extend plays as much as possible
One of Chambliss’ most vital attributes is the fact that he is a dual-threat quarterback that can create very well. Whether that be him climbing out of the pocket to give his receivers more time or taking off to scramble, Chambliss has become one of the more dangerous quarterbacks in the nation because of his abilities.
As long as the Ole Miss offensive line can protect well and give Chambliss the room he needs to create, the Rebels have the receivers and skill players to make things happen. The veteran is currently third in the SEC in passing yards and has a cannon for an arm that can get the ball a long way. Him being able to continue doing what he has always done this season will be a recipe for success.
Contain the quarterback run
It seemed that LSU cracked the code on the Auburn offense after its success against Georgia—limit quarterback Byrum Brown’s legs. Brown is currently second among SEC quarterbacks in terms of rushing yardage, to which he was limited highly in the recent loss. The quarterback extended a lot of plays with his legs in Athens, allowing the Tigers to keep the ball away from the Bulldogs.
Keying in on the quarterback run, as Golding has pointed out to his team, is important in order for Auburn’s offense to not stay on the field too long. The Tigers offense is centered around Brown being able to create more time and extend drives, and that not being an existent factor makes them one dimensional in the long run. Ole Miss being able to do the same thing as LSU will be a big help.
Auburn Undercover is an independent Auburn sports media company covering Auburn athletics, recruiting and insider news.
