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Auburn football: 3 takeaways from disappointing loss at Texas A&M

By Jake Mitchell

Sep 23, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (45) sacks Auburn Tigers quarterback Payton Thorne (1) during the first half at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 23, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (45) sacks Auburn Tigers quarterback Payton Thorne (1) during the first half at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 23, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; Auburn Tigers linebacker Jalen McLeod (35) and linebacker Stephen Sings V (18) tackle Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Ainias Smith (0) during the third quarter at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 23, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; Auburn Tigers linebacker Jalen McLeod (35) and linebacker Stephen Sings V (18) tackle Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Ainias Smith (0) during the third quarter at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Defense is ahead of the offense

There was a sentiment during Fall camp on the plains that the Auburn offense was ahead of the defense. After Saturday, it’s fair to say that those assumptions were wrong.

While the offense has struggled against Power Five opponents, Ron Roberts’ defense has stepped up and kept the Tigers in games.

The biggest story of this unit’s season so far has been the emergence of linebacker Eugene Asante. He was the Tigers’ star against Cal, and again today did what he could to keep Auburn in the game. He had nine tackles in the game, and he recovered a fumble and took it to the house for Auburn’s only touchdown of the contest.

If Auburn is going to win games in the SEC, this unit is going to have to continue making big plays. Without this unit, the Tigers would Saturday could have been far uglier than it already was.

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