Auburn Football: 5 worst losses in program history

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Auburn Tigers running back Tank Bigsby (4) dives for the goal line for a rushing touchdown as Auburn Tigers take on Mississippi State Bulldogs at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. /

5. 2021 vs. Mississippi State, 43-34

Before this game, Auburn had never lost a game in which it led by 25 points. In the first half of this one, (shield your eyes if your NFL allegiance lies in Atlanta), the Tigers had a commanding 28-3 lead over Mississippi State.

Unlike the famous 28-3 Super Bowl, this lead was not blown against one of the greatest dynasties in the sport. The Bulldogs had already lost to Alabama, LSU, Arkansas, and Memphis. That LSU team finished 6-7, and that Memphis team finished 6-6.

The late Bulldog head coach Mike Leach was building a formidable SEC wildcard before his passing in December 2022, improving Mississippi State’s record in each of his three seasons in Starkville. This 2021 team finished 7-6, and while the improvement was evident, Leach had yet to totally reshape the Bulldogs in his image.

This was not a team Auburn should have lost to, especially in this fashion. The Tigers had a shot at getting into the SEC Championship Game, a shot which dissolved more and more with every Will Rogers touchdown (of which there were six).

This game was the true undoing of the only full season that head coach Bryan Harsin got on the plains. He coached just 21 games at Auburn, and while there was plenty of bad, this was the worst of the lot.

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