Auburn has had a largely underwhelming season so far; the offense ranks toward the bottom half of the nation for scoring, averaging around 21 points per game. Additionally, Auburn has struggled to take care of the ball, ranking 98th nationally in turnover margin.
Despite these struggles, Auburn seemed to have caught a break. On Saturday, the Tigers defeated the Kentucky Wildcats, ending a four-game losing streak and earning their first conference win of the year. Jarquez Hunter’s rushing efforts played a pivotal role in the offense’s success, running for 278 yards and two touchdowns. Hunter was due for a dominant performance like this one. Although Hunter is leading the SEC in rushing yards, Saturday marked the first time he ran for over 100 yards since Sept. 14 against New Mexico. If the Tigers wish to close out their season strong, the rushing attack headlined by Hunter needs to remain the focal point of the offense.
Leaning more on the running game has proved to benefit the Tigers this season. Auburn averages 257 rushing yards in wins compared to 131.6 in losses. Hunter has finished four games with more than 15 rushing attempts; in these matchups, Auburn has either won the game or lost by six points or fewer. An increase in rushing attempts would also help ease some of the pressure on the passing game. This trend was present last year as well. During the 2023 season, in games where Hunter saw less than ten attempts, Auburn had a 2-3 record, with all losses by 11 points or more. The Tigers posted a 6-4 record when Hunter was called on to run the ball ten or more times, with each loss by a touchdown or less.
The recipe for keeping Auburn competitive and in the best position to win games is evident. The Tigers are no stranger to leaning on the running game, ranking in the top five of the SEC in rushing yards per game since 2022. It’s time for the Tigers to go back to the basics and take a ground-and-pound approach. Having an All-SEC talent in Hunter should help the Tigers pace their offense, move the ball down the field and open up scoring opportunities.
