Auburn Football: 3 Reasons the Tigers can beat Alabama

2. Jarquez Hunter and the rushing attack

If Auburn football is going to be in this game late, it’ll be due to the running game. They’ll have to chew up clock, shorten the game, and force Kevin Steele’s defense to load the box. The Tigers have the pieces to do that.

The Tigers won’t have a 1,000-yard rusher in the regular season, something that used to be the norm on the plains, but they have a committee of backs they can throw at Alabama.

Auburn has four running backs that have carried the ball at least 30 times this year. Jarquez Hunter is averaging 5.8 yards per carry, Brian Battie 4.5, Damari Alston 4.7, and Jeremiah Cobb 5.6. Led by Hunter, this is a group that will be fresh for 60 minutes.

Thorne, despite his lackluster overall, has been a part of a dynamic rushing attack. He adds the threat of the quarterback run, and while he’s not the electric playmaker that Nick Marshall or Cam Newton was, he has shown the ability to make big plays with his legs at times.

The quarterback won’t beat Alabama singlehandedly with his arm. If the run game, as mentioned, keeps the defense honest and loading the box, it will open up some easier throws down field for Thorne. He won’t slice the Tide apart with precision passing, but the run game could create some big, easy passing plays, especially if Rivaldo Fairweather is healthy.