All you have to do is win by one. While the Alabama Crimson Tide took care of business in many of their one-score games a season ago, the same thing cannot be said about the Auburn Tigers. In Tom Fornelli's latest for CBS Sports, he took a deep dive into the luckiest, and unluckiest, teams in college football from a season ago. Fate would have it that nobody lost close games quite like Auburn did.
Here is the most amount of one-score losses suffered by any college football program from last year.
- Auburn Tigers: 6
- Arkansas Razorbacks: 5
- Penn State Nittany Lions: 5
- Liberty Flames: 4
- Texas State Bobcats: 4
- Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders: 4
- Army Black Knights: 4
- Appalachian State Mountaineers: 4
- Kansas State Wildcats: 4
- Florida State Seminoles: 4
- New Mexico State Aggies: 4
As Fornelli mentioned, Army was the only team with four or more one-score losses to have two wins of that same variety. Arkansas, Auburn, Florida State, and Texas State went a combined 0-19 in their one-score games. So if Auburn had been a little more cohesive in close games, maybe Hugh Freeze would not be out of a job? Instead, the luckiest program in college football history is no longer that.
While the 2020s have been brutal for Auburn, the 2010s were filled with one crazy win after another.
Alabama fans should take great joy is seeing Auburn lose in close games
As Auburn went 0-6 in one-score games a season ago, Alabama went 4-1 in games decided by eight points or less. The Crimson Tide had wins over Georgia, Missouri, South Carolina, and Auburn. They did suffer a two-point loss at home to Oklahoma, but that was to a future playoff team, one Alabama avenged in the No. 8 vs. No. 9 first-round game. Sometimes, you just need to go create your own luck.
Right now, Auburn is desperately trying to live in the past, while Alabama is trying to forge new glory years. In time, maybe Alex Golesh can reclaim the sunken ship down on The Plains? However, Kalen DeBoer has already guided Alabama to the playoff once and won a playoff game on the road before year three even begins. He may not have a ton of built-up equity, but he has more than you may think.
Overall, long gone are the days of the Cam-back, the Prayer at Jordan-Hare, and, of course, Kick Six. Auburn may have a national title on its ledger this century, as well as another undefeated season, and an additional trip to a national championship game. However, Auburn is arguably the most storied program that has yet to reach the College Football Playoff before. This will be year 13 of the playoffs.
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Ultimately, Auburn has either undeniably lost its way or no longer has the universe shamelessly on its side. To be fair, it is probably a little bit of both. In all honesty, having your two biggest rivals be perennial powerhouses in Alabama and Georgia certainly makes things more difficult for Auburn. All that aside, no one in crimson from the Yellowhammer State ever feels sorry for them on Thanksgiving.
As far as what Auburn will need to do, how about trying to be better when the game is on the line?
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