Who will start at QB for Auburn? 3 things to know about the other Tigers
Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium will mark the first time Missouri football has ever played there.
The schools have met only three times ever, with the latest an Auburn win at Faurot Field in 2017.
The two schools also met once in the Sun Bowl in 1973, a Missouri win, as well as the 2013 SEC championship game, which Auburn won. Before Saturday’s game, here are three things to know about the current iteration of the more-southern Tigers.
How hot is Harsin's seat?
Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin has reached the end of his rope on the plains. After the Penn State debacle, rumors of Harsin’s impending firing roared.
He made it to the Missouri game, but if he and his Tigers don’t win, Harsin’s tenure at Auburn could come to an unceremonious end. At his weekly press conference, Harsin deflected as to whether Saturday's game is a must-win game.
"I would categorize every Saturday as a must-win,” Harsin said. “I don't really have an answer for you there. Yes. Any time you ask me that from this point on, yes, it's a must-win."
Harsin’s status was in limbo for a portion of the offseason. He survived an investigation into his handling of the program that could have resulted in his firing for cause, which would have negated his buyout.
Despite making it through that, Harsin’s status as coach remained tenuous. He acknowledged the impact of the investigation at SEC Media Days in July.
“What it did is it united our football team, our players, our staff, our football team,” Harsin said. “I'm really proud of our guys. I'm proud of what something like that that could be very challenging and difficult for a lot of people, how our guys stepped up and handled it.”
Seven studs
Even with all of the chaos surrounding Auburn this season, the defensive front seven remains a major strength. The unit is likely the best position group on the team, possibly barring the running backs.
The line is led by junior defensive end Colby Wooden, who has 10 tackles so far on the season, including one for loss. He is joined on the line by Marcus Harris, who has a sack and three tackles for loss so far in 2022.
Eku Leota has been a force at the edge rusher position for Auburn so far this season. Leota leads the team with four tackles for loss so far this season and has one sack for a nine-yard loss.
With so much talent on the unit, it has become especially important for Missouri to fix some of its offensive line issues that have plagued it throughout the season. The Tigers have struggled to give Brady Cook time to throw and get much of a push for the run game.
Should those issues not be remedied, Auburn’s defensive front seven could make for a long day on the plains for Missouri.
QB issues
Auburn’s starting quarterback for its first three games, TJ Finley, will not play in Saturday’s game against Missouri. However, Harsin had not yet announced a starter for the matchup, after Finley and the rest of the offense struggled against Penn State.
Robby Ashford played during the matchup against the Nittany Lions, so it stands to reason that he would have first crack at the start against Missouri. Ashford finished the Penn State game with 10 completions on 19 attempts for 144 yards and a touchdown.
However, Ashford also threw two picks last week. Should Harsin decide the performance coupled with his week of practice isn’t enough to lock down the starting job, he’ll have a few other options.
Zach Calzada was expected to sit with Ashford at the top of the list. However, it was reported Thursday that Calzada is undergoing shoulder surgery and is expected to miss the game Saturday against MU.
Calzada played for Texas A&M last season when the Aggies came to Faurot Field and beat the Tigers 35-14. He played well in that game, throwing for 148 yards and two touchdowns.
In addition to those two, Auburn also has freshman Holden Geriner, who could see playing time.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri football: 3 things to know about Auburn before SEC opener
