Game Day Primer / Sat, Oct 31
AWAY TEAM
4–3
HOME TEAM
5–2
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01 / Why this game matters
No. 12 Ole Miss is coming off a loss at Texas, but Auburn’s recent win over Georgia makes this a dangerous game to call a rebound. Auburn quarterback can run as well as throw, while the Rebels must adjust their running game.
02 / Know these people
Byrum Brown / The quarterback who can carry the answer
Auburn · Quarterback (QB)
His 479 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns lead Auburn’s ground production. A defender chasing the running back cannot assume the quarterback has given up the ball.
Trinidad Chambliss / The passing game’s central figure
Ole Miss · Quarterback (QB)
He has 1,926 passing yards and 16 touchdowns, with seven interceptions. Ole Miss needs his production without giving Auburn short fields.
03 / Watch for this
Keep an eye on Auburn quarterback after the handoff motion. If Ole Miss follows the back and Brown keeps the ball outside, the Tigers have created a running lane without needing a pass.
04 / Sound smart
Auburn beat Georgia, then lost to LSU by 21. Predicting its mood seems like a hazardous hobby.
The central storyline
No. 12 Ole Miss is coming off a loss at Texas, but Auburn’s recent win over Georgia makes this a dangerous game to call a rebound. Auburn quarterback can run as well as throw, while the Rebels must adjust their running game.
A read on both sides
Auburn
Team vibe
Unranked Auburn is 4-3 overall and 2-3 in the SEC. Its last two results were a 27-24 win over Georgia and a 38-17 loss to LSU. The Tigers average 25.4 points and allow 24.1; their ability to threaten with a running quarterback is especially useful when a conventional passing drive stalls.
Ole Miss
Team vibe
No. 12 Ole Miss is 5-2 and 3-2 in the SEC after losing 34-27 at Texas. The Rebels average 36 points and 284.9 passing yards, but allow 25.3 points and 161.1 rushing yards. Quarterback gives them a productive passing route through a game in which the ground attack has lost an important contributor.
Current storylines
Teach Me What to Notice
On screen
Look for: Watch the defender nearest the outside of Auburn’s formation as quarterback meets the running back.
If you see it: That defender crashes toward the back and Brown keeps the ball outside.
Here's what it means: Auburn has turned the quarterback into an extra running threat. Ole Miss must keep someone responsible for him.
On screen
Look for: Watch Ole Miss’s short completions and the first Auburn tackler.
If you see it: The receiver is stopped immediately, short of the first-down marker.
Here's what it means: Auburn is making the Rebels execute another play. Missing that tackle could instead let the passing game move without a difficult throw.
The central storyline
No. 12 Ole Miss is coming off a loss at Texas, but Auburn’s recent win over Georgia makes this a dangerous game to call a rebound. Auburn quarterback can run as well as throw, while the Rebels must adjust their running game.
A read on both sides
Auburn
Team vibe
Unranked Auburn is 4-3 overall and 2-3 in the SEC. Its last two results were a 27-24 win over Georgia and a 38-17 loss to LSU. The Tigers average 25.4 points and allow 24.1; their ability to threaten with a running quarterback is especially useful when a conventional passing drive stalls.
Ole Miss
Team vibe
No. 12 Ole Miss is 5-2 and 3-2 in the SEC after losing 34-27 at Texas. The Rebels average 36 points and 284.9 passing yards, but allow 25.3 points and 161.1 rushing yards. Quarterback gives them a productive passing route through a game in which the ground attack has lost an important contributor.
Current storylines
Teach Me What to Notice
On screen
Look for: Watch the defender nearest the outside of Auburn’s formation as quarterback meets the running back.
If you see it: That defender crashes toward the back and Brown keeps the ball outside.
Here's what it means: Auburn has turned the quarterback into an extra running threat. Ole Miss must keep someone responsible for him.
On screen
Look for: Watch Ole Miss’s short completions and the first Auburn tackler.
If you see it: The receiver is stopped immediately, short of the first-down marker.
Here's what it means: Auburn is making the Rebels execute another play. Missing that tackle could instead let the passing game move without a difficult throw.
Players & Coaches
Players & Coaches
Auburn · Quarterback (QB)
His 479 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns lead Auburn’s ground production. A defender chasing the running back cannot assume the quarterback has given up the ball.
Players & Coaches
Ole Miss · Quarterback (QB)
He has 1,926 passing yards and 16 touchdowns, with seven interceptions. Ole Miss needs his production without giving Auburn short fields.
Players & Coaches
Ole Miss · Wide Receiver (WR)
His 43 catches, 610 yards and five touchdowns make him a useful focal point for the Rebels. Watch whether catches arrive with room to run or require him to absorb immediate contact.
Players & Coaches
Auburn · Linebacker (LB)
He leads Auburn with 57 tackles and four sacks. A disruptive play could push Ole Miss away from a comfortable second down and toward an obvious pass.
The Stakes
Ole Miss enters with two SEC losses and Auburn with three. A ranked home win would help the Rebels recover from Texas; Auburn can add another significant upset to its Georgia result.
Why it matters
Auburn’s quarterback runs are the first thing I’m watching. If Ole Miss contains those without losing track of receivers, it can force the Tigers to win through less comfortable throws.
History & Context
History & Context
Ole Miss won the previous two meetings, in 2022 and 2023. Auburn’s visit gives the Tigers their first chance since then to interrupt that run.
Conversation Starters
Conversation Starters
Auburn beat Georgia, then lost to LSU by 21. Predicting its mood seems like a hazardous hobby.
Conversation Starters
Ole Miss has a productive passing game. Auburn would prefer it also had to keep earning every yard after the catch.
Conversation Starters
On an Auburn handoff, keep watching . The camera may have more than one runner to choose from.