Defensive potential
Auburn’s defense has some staining power and had impressive performances in all five games this year. The Tigers rank 23rd in overall defensive EPA and have legitimate talent in the back end with Nehemiah Pritchett, DJ James, and Jaylin Simpson. Carson Beck completed 66 percent of his throws for over 300 yards, but more than half of those yards came from Brock Bowers, who got loose in the second half.
From the two SEC games I watched, Auburn played a high percentage of zone defenses, allowing these talented defensive backs to crash down and make plays on the ball, while opening the door for some windows for opposing quarterbacks to fit passes in if they’re accurate. If not, they get plays like these.