Auburn remains at No. 15 in SEC Power Poll following loss

The Auburn Tigers showed signs of fleeting life on Saturday, but were ultimately outclassed and out-coached again in a lopsided 31-13 loss at the hands of No. 4 ranked Georgia in Athens. Hugh Freeze’s squad dropped to 2-4 on the season and 0-3 in SEC play after the loss.

After allowing Georgia to strike first for the first time in its last eight SEC games, Auburn’s offense looked competent behind Payton Thorne, registering solid drives in the first half, although again failing to punch the ball in the end zone. The Tigers did find paydirt in the third quarter, but Carson Beck and company were well in control and able to strike back by that time in the contest.

While the loss dropped Auburn further down the overall standings, the Tigers stayed put in Tuscaloosa News’s SEC writer Chase Goodbread’s SEC Power Poll. Hugh Freeze’s Tigers remain ranked as the No. 15 team in the conference after six weeks of college football, just one spot ahead of last place Mississippi State.

Goodbread’s previous quips and quick analysis regarding Auburn’s struggles were somewhat comedic and light in undertone. This week Goodbread simply speaks about a possible buy out of head coach Hugh Freeze, stating the money spent on buy outs of Gus Malzahn, Bryan Harsin, and Hugh Freeze would have given Auburn a “NIL war chest that could make a national championship run for five straight years.”

Auburn’s ranking may have not changed this week, but the top five of the SEC Power Poll saw more movement after a hectic Saturday. Texas (1) moved back up to the top following Alabama‘s (6) loss to Vanderbilt, Georgia (2) moved back up into the top 2 following the victory over Auburn, Ole Miss (3) climbed back into the top 5 after a win, Texas A&M (4) entered the top 5 for the first time this season, and Tennessee (5) fell again following a loss to Arkansas.

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