TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Auburn Tigers (5-7) fell to the No. 13 Alabama Crimson Tide (9-3) 28-14 in the Iron Bowl Saturday. The loss dashes the Tigers' hopes of bowl eligibility.
The first half was wasted by Auburn. After forcing and recovering a Ryan Williams fumble, Auburn drove all the way down to the Alabama red zone, only for Ian Vachon to miss a 39-yard field goal attempt. Jalen Milroe would go on to score a 14-yard rushing touchdown.
Kicking has been a huge struggle for Auburn all season; they are 10/19 on field goal attempts this year. Vachon is Coach Freeze’s third different kicker to play this year, and the results have been consistently inconsistent.
Just two drives later, Auburn was facing a 4th and 4 from the Alabama 15 and elected to go for it due to the lack of trust in Vachon. They failed to convert, leaving them with zero points on two red zone trips.
As the second quarter started, Caleb Wooden intercepted Jalen Milroe. Peyton Thorne connected with Malcolm Simmons for 30+ yards, which was stretched out by a late hit from Malachi Moore, setting the Tigers up in the Alabama red zone where they stalled. However, Auburn got on the board with a 37-yard Ian Vachon field goal.
Alabama responded with a touchdown as Milroe scored his second rushing touchdown of the game.
Right before the break, Jalen McCleod got a strip sack, and after being stopped on the one-yard line, Auburn settled for a field goal.
In the third quarter, Alabama continued to dominate on the ground, scoring two rushing touchdowns; the first by Jam Miller and the second by Jalen Milroe, his 3rd rushing touchdown of the game.
Auburn responded with a 28-yard touchdown pass when Payton Thorne connected with Cam Coleman to bring the game within two scores.
Auburn had a chance to make it competitive after Jalen Milroe’s third fumble. However, on a double pass, Jarquez threw an interception that took away Auburn’s last real hope.
After the game, Coach Freeze said, “This season was disappointing and humbling,” regarding how so many games felt within reach but didn’t go the Tigers’ way.
Peyton Thorne finished with one touchdown, one interception, 304 passing yards, and 42 rushing yards.
Jarquez Hunter had 56 rushing yards and one interception.
Cam Coleman and KeAndre Lambert-Smith finished with 78 and 116 yards receiving, respectively.
Failing to reach six wins, the Tigers are out of bowl contention. A long season full of a few ups and a lot of downs comes to an end, and Hugh Freeze and the Tigers will get an early start on the offseason.
