SEC Power Rankings, Week 3: Ole Miss on the Rise
Sep 12, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers running back Peyton Barber (25) scores the game-winning touchdown during overtime against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Jordan Hare Stadium. Auburn won 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports
A week after tossing three picks against Louisville in the Georgia Dome, Auburn quarterback Jeremy Johnson struggled again with his decision-making. The pre-season Heisman candidate was 21-for-32 with 236 passing yards, two touchdowns and two head-scratching interceptions. Johnson is the first SEC QB to throw five interceptions in his first two games of the season since 2009.
On the bright side, Peyton Barber was terrific. The sophomore running back gained 125 rushing yards and one touchdown on 23 carries (5.4 average) and got nine of the toughest yards you’ll see on his one reception, which barely moved the sticks on 3rd-and-9 in overtime. He scored the winning TD on the very next play.
Defensively, the Tigers played without injured starters Tray Matthews and Carl Lawson, and lost cornerback Blake Countess on a targeting ejection in the second quarter. The stars of the day were linebacker Cassanova McKinzy had 13 total tackles, three tackles for a loss, two sacks and a forced fumble and defensive tackle Montravius Adams, who created havoc at the line of scrimmage with constant penetration for the second week in a row.
Looking ahead, Auburn has a lot of problems to fix before they travel to Death Valley next weekend.
Next Game: Saturday September 19 at LSU
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6
Auburn Tigers 2-0 (0-0)
Last week: Beat Jacksonville St. 27-20 (OT)
Last rank: 3rd
It’s important to note that almost losing to a FCS opponent and actually losing to a FCS opponent are completely different things. And 99 times out of 100, the philosophy of “a win is a win” should be applied. But Auburn looked incredibly bad against Jacksonville State Saturday.
The Tigers basically sleepwalked through the first 55 minutes of the game against the Gamecocks, who came in ranked in the nation’s top ten among FCS programs. For those 55 minutes, the Gamecocks were the more physical team. Jacksonville State completely controlled the tempo of the game, held a 252 to 152 edge in total yardage in the first half and outgained Auburn 438 to 401 overall, picking up 28 first downs along the way. The Gamecocks also won the turnover battle 3-1. Coming in as a 39-point underdog, had JSU been able to hold on, it would have gone down in history as one of the biggest upsets of all-time.
A week after tossing three picks against Louisville in the Georgia Dome, Auburn quarterback Jeremy Johnson struggled again with his decision-making. The pre-season Heisman candidate was 21-for-32 with 236 passing yards, two touchdowns and two head-scratching interceptions. Johnson is the first SEC QB to throw five interceptions in his first two games of the season since 2009.
On the bright side, Peyton Barber was terrific. The sophomore running back gained 125 rushing yards and one touchdown on 23 carries (5.4 average) and got nine of the toughest yards you’ll see on his one reception, which barely moved the sticks on 3rd-and-9 in overtime. He scored the winning TD on the very next play.
Defensively, the Tigers played without injured starters Tray Matthews and Carl Lawson, and lost cornerback Blake Countess on a targeting ejection in the second quarter. The stars of the day were linebacker Cassanova McKinzy had 13 total tackles, three tackles for a loss, two sacks and a forced fumble and defensive tackle Montravius Adams, who created havoc at the line of scrimmage with constant penetration for the second week in a row.
Looking ahead, Auburn has a lot of problems to fix before they travel to Death Valley next weekend.
Next Game: Saturday September 19 at LSU
Next: LSU