Auburn is a two-score favorite heading into Saturday’s game against Arkansas in Jordan-Hare Stadium, but don’t let that fool you: this unranked Razorbacks squad is absolutely not to be taken lightly. Both teams are fighting to establish an identity under first-year head coaches, with Alex Golesh at Auburn and Ryan Silverfield for Arkansas, both making that massive leap from the American Athletic Conference to the SEC. Arkansas genuinely believes they have an equal chance to win this one, and honestly, there are some glaring factors that could make that belief a reality.
The Razorbacks’ Secret Weapon: Quincy Rhodes Jr.
Auburn’s offensive line has been struggling, and they better put some serious focus on Arkansas’ edge rusher, Quincy Rhodes Jr. This kid is a problem. While the Razorbacks’ defense isn’t exactly loaded with sack artists, Rhodes has accounted for a massive 13 of their mere 59 pressures this season. That’s 22% from one player! For comparison, Auburn’s own defense has racked up 125 pressures. The pressure on Auburn’s O-line should theoretically lessen this Saturday, but taking *any* plays off against Rhodes could spell absolute doom for quarterback Byrum Brown and the Tigers. They need to know where he is on every single snap.
Can Auburn Find Its Footing on Offense and Defense?
It’s no secret Auburn has been struggling to run the football. Jeremiah Cobb hasn’t hit a single 100-yard rushing game all season, and Omar Mabson hasn’t even broken 20 rushing yards in three straight contests. This Saturday feels like Auburn’s best shot to fix that run game, especially since Arkansas actually ranks one spot *higher* than Auburn in rushing defense in the SEC. After this, Auburn closes out SEC play against two tough run defenses in Mississippi State and Alabama. The result against Arkansas could define their entire run game for the rest of the season.
Then there’s the Arkansas quarterback, KJ Jackson, a Montgomery native who’s proven he’s a quality passer in the SEC, especially over his last two weeks, completing 63% of his passes for 480 yards. The glaring stat? He hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass in three weeks. Auburn defensive coordinator DJ Durkin has pointed to “inconsistency” in his own defense as a factor in recent losses. The Tigers *have* to find a way to exploit Jackson’s mistakes and keep him from having a true breakout game just 54 miles from his hometown.
Arkansas Lives For Late Downs, And Auburn’s Defense Knows It
One final factor that could give Arkansas the edge is their grit on 3rd and 4th down. The Razorbacks convert a solid 43% of their 3rd downs and an impressive 47% of their 4th downs. And let’s be real, Auburn’s defense struggled to get Ole Miss off the field in those crucial late-down situations just last week. If that happens again, Arkansas could absolutely pull off an upset.
Saturday’s clash isn’t just another game for Auburn; it’s a gut check for their first-year head coach and a crucial opportunity to fix fundamental issues before SEC play closes out against tough run defenses like Mississippi State and Alabama. You just know Arkansas feels they have an equal chance to win this thing. This weekend, we’ll see if Auburn can finally establish that identity, or if the Razorbacks pull off the upset.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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