Auburn falls to No. 14 in SEC Power Poll following upset loss to Cal

Auburn’s student section cheer on their team as Auburn Tigers take on California Golden Bears at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama, on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. California Golden Bears leads Auburn Tigers, 14-7, at halftime.

The Auburn Tigers came into week two off of possibly their most efficient win in program history. With expectations sky-high following a 70-point beatdown of FCS opponent Alabama A&M, Auburn laid an egg in a brutal 21-14 loss to Cal at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

The loss was not only ugly but alarming enough to create doubts over quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag]’s status as the starter under center for the remainder of the season. Head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] has been cryptic with the media following the loss, but has stayed true to the sentiment that his team still remains far away from competing with the better half of the SEC. While Auburn’s leading man has stayed true to his word that Payton Thorne is the best option to lead his offense, it would be hard to imagine a world where the senior leads this team for the remainder of the season.

The fact of the matter is that Auburn’s week two loss as a 12.5-point favorite was on the whole team. While the quarterback did not play well, offensive line issues and defensive breakdowns allowed the Golden Bears to stay in a game they had no business competing in. Auburn’s struggles led Tuscaloosa News’s SEC writer Chase Goodbread to drop the Tigers all the way down to No. 14 in his rankings, ahead of only Arkansas (15), and Mississippi State (16).

Goodbread’s analysis echoes that of many Auburn fans, as he simply amplifies the fact Hugh Freeze’s offense still has not improved since he took over on the Plains a year ago. Even with a win this week against New Mexico (0-2) Goodbread is unlikely to move the Tigers up his list unless the…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/auburn-falls-no-14-sec-210050469.html

Author : Auburn Wire

Publish date : 2024-09-10 21:00:50

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