Auburn Tigers have a blueprint to reach the bowl game

Auburn has a 3-5 record and even many ardent Tigers fans believe their favorite college football program is unlikely to reach a bowl game. While some may question the idea of ​​Auburn playing in the postseason, there is a blueprint for the Tigers to go bowling.

The remaining schedule includes Vanderbilt (Nov. 2), a bye week, Louisiana-Monroe (Nov. 16), Texas A&M (Nov. 23) and at Alabama (Nov. 30) for this year’s Iron Bowl. The Tigers must win three of their remaining four games to finish 6-6, the bare minimum to officially qualify.

It will be a challenging task when Diego Pavia and an upstart 5-3 Vandy team come to the Plains, an undefeated SEC record for A&M on the schedule and, of course, playing in Bama. There’s still a major reason why Auburn has a real chance to win one or more of these games.

After outgaining Kentucky’s defense on 50 carries for 326 yards and 2 touchdowns, Auburn’s rushing attack may be more than just finding its stride. The Tigers have arguably the best rushing attack in the SEC. The focus becomes clear as Hugh Freeze and his staff trot out Jarquez Hunter to carry the football.

His 278 yards and 2 touchdowns make up the bulk of the team’s rushing stats against the Wildcats. Strength, speed, vision and sheer determination are part of what allowed Hunter to be the SEC’s leading rusher with 863 yards this season. Taking a closer look at the snap stats against Kentucky, the second half of that game could be a barometer of what will happen over the final four games.

Auburn’s first drive of the half ends with a one-yard Hunter score. That play gives the Tigers their first lead, 17-10. For the drive, Hunter’s stats included nine total carries for 36 yards. Downhill come Hunter and the Tigers. The next ride sees Hunter’s brilliance again.

The first carry is about 1 meter, but the next carry is about 50 meters. For the third quarter alone, Hunter’s 3-yard run to start Auburn’s third drive and end the quarter puts him at 12 carries, 90 yards, a 7.5 average and a score. There’s no secret to Auburn’s plan to attack Kentucky with Hunter, but the Wildcats simply can’t stop it. The fourth quarter is more of the same.

Hunter’s final three carries of the drive included one of 45 yards and a touchdown, giving Auburn a commanding 24-10 advantage.

Although the Tigers did not score again, he scored three more times, including a 46-yard run, to ice the game with just under three minutes on the clock.

Hunter’s exploits need to be exposed, but he is not alone. The offensive line, Payton Thorne, Damari Alston and Jeremiah Cobb, are some of the other key cogs in the well-oiled Auburn rushing game. Also, give props to Auburn’s tight ends for their blocking efforts. They’re all part of what might be the SEC’s best game entering the final stretch of the season.

So to answer the question, yes, Auburn is capable of reaching a bowl game despite the remaining schedule. The blueprint has now been proven. Let’s see how Auburn’s remaining opponents try to slow the rushing attack led by Hunter. Only Freeze has been able to stop Hunter this season. It won’t be easy to beat the Tigers in the future.