Texas A&M Football
Week 2: Oklahoma - Tennessee
Week 3: Ole Miss - Alabama
Week 4: Texas A&M - Arkansas
Week 5: Georgia - Alabama
Week 6: Georgia - Tennessee
Week 7: Alabama - Texas A&M
Week 8: Tennessee - Alabama
Eight games into the 2014 season, the Auburn Tigers seemed to have everything going their way.
A year removed from nearly winning it all, Auburn was on the right end of every close game, bounce and call.
All the breaks the Tigers had received in the past year and a half came to a peak when they traveled to Oxford on the first of November — Laquon Treadwell went down just short of the goal line, and Auburn escaped one more time.
Though Auburn's season didn't end as fortuitously, the image from that night is burned into fans' minds.
So, how will it unfold when the two teams meet again?
Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Ala.
When: Oct. 31
If not for Texas A&M and a few ill-timed fumbles, who knows where Auburn would have been at the end of last season. But, instead of thrusting any sort of trophy into the air, the Tigers were forced to make some changes.
The biggest being on defense.
After allowing teams to pick apart its secondary, which ranked 12th in the SEC, Auburn went out and hired Will Muschamp. His task will include fixing the Tigers' problems in the defensive backfield, but he’ll also have to instill some type of pass rush.
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
With their questions on offense, the Rebels may require their strong defense more than ever.
Auburn mustered just eight sacks in SEC games last year. If Muschamp can work his magic, however, the Tigers can be dangerous.
Although Nick Marshall is gone, Jeremy Johnson appears more than ready to lead Auburn down the field. The junior opened the season one year ago and put up over 200 yards, while firing two touchdowns, in a first half against Arkansas. It’s also likely that Auburn will go away from the read-option and instill a more traditional offense this year, suiting Johnson's talents.
Across the field, Ole Miss will be looking for revenge in any form it can get it.
Treadwell is back, alongside all five members of the offensive line. While that’s a great start, the Rebels may be in for a long year if they’re left to rely on offense to carry them. Bo Wallace is gone, and while he was an effective game manager, that about sums up his role. So, if Hugh Freeze is going to see offensive improvement, it will likely come in the form of a quarterback.
Chad Kelly, the number one JUCO quarterback in the nation, is a strong contender to fill that spot. He has the talent, but it's a crapshoot whether he will live up to his potential. That means it is all too likely Ole Miss will once again go as far as its defense will take it.
With the losses of two All-Americans in the secondary, questions reside on that end too. Robert Nkemdiche is great, phenomenal even, but the pieces around him have to take shape in the early portions of 2015.
In a year that could be a wide open sprint to the finish, both Ole Miss and Auburn have the potential to throw their hats in the ring as contenders. If this rematch carries the same weight as last year, it may be because both teams have answered all their questions.
The Season Ahead: The SEC's best game in Week Nine
August 11, 2015
1,327
SEC Game of the Week series
Week 1: Texas A&M - Arizona StateWeek 2: Oklahoma - Tennessee
Week 3: Ole Miss - Alabama
Week 4: Texas A&M - Arkansas
Week 5: Georgia - Alabama
Week 6: Georgia - Tennessee
Week 7: Alabama - Texas A&M
Week 8: Tennessee - Alabama
Eight games into the 2014 season, the Auburn Tigers seemed to have everything going their way.
A year removed from nearly winning it all, Auburn was on the right end of every close game, bounce and call.
All the breaks the Tigers had received in the past year and a half came to a peak when they traveled to Oxford on the first of November — Laquon Treadwell went down just short of the goal line, and Auburn escaped one more time.
Though Auburn's season didn't end as fortuitously, the image from that night is burned into fans' minds.
So, how will it unfold when the two teams meet again?
SEC Game of the Week: Week Nine
Who: Ole Miss vs. AuburnWhere: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Ala.
When: Oct. 31
If not for Texas A&M and a few ill-timed fumbles, who knows where Auburn would have been at the end of last season. But, instead of thrusting any sort of trophy into the air, the Tigers were forced to make some changes.
The biggest being on defense.
After allowing teams to pick apart its secondary, which ranked 12th in the SEC, Auburn went out and hired Will Muschamp. His task will include fixing the Tigers' problems in the defensive backfield, but he’ll also have to instill some type of pass rush.
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
With their questions on offense, the Rebels may require their strong defense more than ever.
Although Nick Marshall is gone, Jeremy Johnson appears more than ready to lead Auburn down the field. The junior opened the season one year ago and put up over 200 yards, while firing two touchdowns, in a first half against Arkansas. It’s also likely that Auburn will go away from the read-option and instill a more traditional offense this year, suiting Johnson's talents.
Across the field, Ole Miss will be looking for revenge in any form it can get it.
Treadwell is back, alongside all five members of the offensive line. While that’s a great start, the Rebels may be in for a long year if they’re left to rely on offense to carry them. Bo Wallace is gone, and while he was an effective game manager, that about sums up his role. So, if Hugh Freeze is going to see offensive improvement, it will likely come in the form of a quarterback.
Chad Kelly, the number one JUCO quarterback in the nation, is a strong contender to fill that spot. He has the talent, but it's a crapshoot whether he will live up to his potential. That means it is all too likely Ole Miss will once again go as far as its defense will take it.
With the losses of two All-Americans in the secondary, questions reside on that end too. Robert Nkemdiche is great, phenomenal even, but the pieces around him have to take shape in the early portions of 2015.
In a year that could be a wide open sprint to the finish, both Ole Miss and Auburn have the potential to throw their hats in the ring as contenders. If this rematch carries the same weight as last year, it may be because both teams have answered all their questions.
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