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Clayton Tune Throws 2 TDs as Houston Tops Auburn in 2021 Birmingham Bowl

Dec 28, 2021
Houston quarterback Clayton Tune (3) throws a pass against Auburn during the first half of an NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Houston quarterback Clayton Tune (3) throws a pass against Auburn during the first half of an NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Houston ended its 2021 season on a high note with a 17-13 win over Auburn in the Birmingham Bowl on Tuesday. 

Quarterback Clayton Tune led the way with two passing touchdowns for the Cougars in what was effectively a road game at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama.

Down three in the fourth quarter, Tune connected with Jake Herslow for the go-ahead touchdown with just over three minutes remaining:

The Cougars had two turnovers and went over 30 minutes of game time between points, but they found a way to win with strong defense and clutch offensive plays.

Houston improved to 12-2, the third season in school history with at least 12 wins. It represents a major turnaround for head coach Dana Holgorsen, who went just 7-13 in his first two years with the program.

It's also the team's first bowl win since winning the Peach Bowl after the 2015 season.

Auburn (6-7) ends the year with five straight losses in the first season under Bryan Harsin. With former starting quarterback Bo Nix transferring to Oregon, backup TJ Finley couldn't muster enough offense for the Tigers.

Notable Performances

Clayton Tune, QB, HOU: 283 passing yards, two TDs, one INT, 43 rushing yards

Alton McCaskill, RB, HOU: 14 carries, 78 rushing yards

Nathaniel Dell, WR, HOU: 10 catches, 150 receiving yards

TJ Finley, QB, AUB: 227 passing yards, one TD

Tank Bigsby, RB, AUB: 16 carries, 96 rushing yards, five catches, 68 receiving yards

Kobe Hudson, WR, AUB: four catches, 57 receiving yards, one TD

Tune Lifts Houston to Impressive Win

The American Athletic Conference improved to 3-0 in bowl games after Tuesday's win, while the SEC dropped to 0-3. Houston showed it belonged with a strong overall performance that was led by its quarterback.

Tune showcased his scrambling ability early on, including on the first touchdown of the game.

The 6'3, 215-pound junior's mobility was on display throughout the game as he somehow avoided big hits with regularity.

He extended plays with his legs to make things happen offensively, while his 43 rushing yards was among his career best.

Nathaniel Dell was also a reliable option down the field, representing more than half of the passing yards during the game with 150 receiving yards on 10 catches.

With a defense that forced Auburn into six punts and two turnovers on downs, Houston certainly earned the victory.

Young Playmakers Show Auburn's Future

Auburn was without Nix as well as offensive linemen Brodarious Hamm and TaShawn Manning, while the defense was short-handed without cornerback Roger McCreary and linebacker Zakoby McClain. Cornerback Jaylin Simpson and star safety Smoke Monday were then both ejected in the second half because of targeting calls.

Houston played without Logan Hall and top cornerback Marcus Jones, but Auburn had a lot to overcome with personnel. On the positive side, the absences allowed the team to prepare for the future with players who could have key roles in 2022.

Tank Bigsby will clearly remain a focal point of the offense, and he was effective once again Tuesday as both a runner and receiver.

The sophomore running back tallied 164 yards from scrimmage as the most dynamic offensive player for either team.

Kobe Hudson also impressed throughout the game, especially with his third-quarter touchdown catch:

Finley, meanwhile, looks like the favorite to begin next season as the starting quarterback after showing flashes of solid play in the Birmingham Bowl.

Consistency was an issue, but the talent is clearly there for the 6'7" sophomore to be an impact quarterback at this level.

More playing time could lead to even more success as the Tigers try to build an SEC contender.   

Bo Nix Announces He Will Transfer to Oregon from Auburn in Instagram Post

Dec 19, 2021
Auburn quarterback Bo Nix (10) throws a pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn quarterback Bo Nix (10) throws a pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix announced Sunday on Instagram that he is transferring to Oregon.

"Coast to Coast," he wrote. "It's official! #GoDucks."

Nix has familiarity with the coaching staff. New Oregon offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Auburn in 2019 when Nix was a freshman for the Tigers.

His first game came against Oregon, a 27-21 win in which Nix threw the game-winning touchdown pass in the final seconds. He won the SEC Freshman of the Year award that season.

Per Tom Green of AL.com, Dillingham—who was Florida State's offensive coordinator the past two years—"had been a candidate for the offensive coordinator vacancy on Bryan Harsin's staff this month. A source at the time told AL.com that part of Dillingham's interest in potentially returning to Auburn was the opportunity to work with Nix again."

In three years at Auburn, Nix threw for 7,251 yards, 39 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, completing 59.4 percent of his passes. 

In Nix's three seasons, the Tigers have gone just 21-15, and they are a disappointing 6-6 this year. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.

T.J. Finley is the favorite to serve as Auburn's starting quarterback. The sophomore stepped into the role in the Tigers' last two games after Nix suffered a season-ending ankle injury, throwing for 325 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He was sacked seven times and Auburn lost both games.

"These guys have seen me in live action. These guys trust me," Finley said of serving as the starter, per Green. "They communicate well with me, and they allow me to do my job and communicate to them what I see on and off the field, and things of that nature. I think the guys have responded well to me stepping in and being the quarterback of the team.”

Auburn QB Bo Nix Announces He Will Enter Transfer Portal as Graduate Transfer

Dec 13, 2021
Auburn quarterback Bo Nix (10) throws a pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn quarterback Bo Nix (10) throws a pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Bo Nix's career with the Auburn Tigers has come to an end.

The quarterback announced on his Instagram page that he plans on leaving the program as a graduate transfer. Nix started the last three years for Auburn and arrived at the school as a 5-star prospect in the class of 2019, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

Nix appeared well on his way to stardom when he started the season opener in 2019 and led the Tigers to a victory over Oregon. He also led the team to a victory over archrival Alabama that season behind two total touchdowns and ended up as the SEC Freshman of the Year.

Unfortunately for Auburn and the quarterback, consistency became an issue as his career continued.

He threw for 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions in his second season and appeared to take something of a step back. The team also went from 9-4 during his freshman campaign to 6-5 in his second season.

The Tigers were just 6-6 in 2021, and Nix missed the final two games thanks to a broken ankle after he at least improved on his turnovers with 11 touchdown passes to three interceptions.

He was more of a game manager than anything else during his time at Auburn, which surely wasn't what the program wasn't looking for when it brought in a 5-star signal-caller as it attempted to keep pace with the Crimson Tide in SEC and national championship races.

Auburn may now turn to LSU transfer TJ Finley, who went 17-of-26 for 137 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in a four-overtime loss to Alabama earlier this season.

As for Nix, he will add a veteran quarterback to whichever school he chooses as a graduate transfer.               

Bryan Harsin Says Auburn Plans to 'Recruit, Recruit, Recruit' After Loss to Alabama

Nov 28, 2021
Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin walks off the field after a 24-22 4-overtime loss to Alabama in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin walks off the field after a 24-22 4-overtime loss to Alabama in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

The Auburn Tigers suffered a disappointing 24-22 4OT loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday, and head coach Bryan Harsin is already looking ahead to 2022 with the mindset to "recruit, recruit, recruit." 

"Is it frustrating? Yes," Harsin told reporters after the loss. "Are there reasons (for the losses)? Absolutely. ... Are we gonna take our ball and go home? Hell no. We're gonna work to build the program."

Harsin is in just his first season as head coach of the Tigers after seven seasons at Boise State, and his recruiting process should have a huge impact on the team moving forward.

Auburn has no commitments from any five-star prospects in the 2022 class and is toward the bottom of the SEC in recruiting for next year. However, the team had several talented four-star prospects in attendance at the Iron Bowl on Saturday, including wide receiver Isaiah Bond, linebacker Robert Woodyard, defensive lineman Khurrtis Perry and linebacker Shemar James. 

According to 247Sports, Georgia, Alabama, Texas A&M and LSU have the top 2022 recruiting classes. Auburn ranks toward the bottom alongside Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and Florida. 

Auburn also has no recruits committed in the class of 2023 yet, per 247Sports. However, the team has made offers to Florida five-star running back Richard Young, Texas five-star running back Rueben Owens, Alabama four-star wide receiver Karmello English and Alabama five-star cornerback Jahlil Hurley. 

Georgia, Arkansas and Texas A&M currently have the most commitments in the 2023 class. 

Auburn hasn't found much success since 2011, when Cam Newton was at quarterback and led the team to a win in the national championship game. The most important thing for the school moving forward will be recruiting, but the outlook isn't great right now.  

Isaiah Spiller, No. 14 Texas A&M Beat No. 13 Auburn 20-3 in Defensive Struggle

Nov 6, 2021
Texas A&M running back Devon Achane (6) runs for a gain as Auburn's Smoke Monday (21) and Owen Pappoe (0) defend during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Texas A&M running back Devon Achane (6) runs for a gain as Auburn's Smoke Monday (21) and Owen Pappoe (0) defend during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Texas A&M continues to take down SEC heavyweights after a 20-3 win over Auburn in a defensive battle at Kyle Field on Saturday. 

Since losing back-to-back games against Arkansas and Mississippi State, the Aggies have been playing their best football of the season. They stunned Alabama 41-38 on Oct. 9 and outscored Missouri and South Carolina by a combined score of 79-28. 

The Tigers entered this week ranked No. 13 in the College Football Playoff standings. They were tied with Alabama in the loss column for the top spot in the SEC West division before this game.

Both defenses were expected to dominate in this game. They more than lived up to their potential. Auburn kept Texas A&M's offense out of the end zone. Zach Calzada had just 192 yards on 29 pass attempts. 

The Aggies only allowed 226 yards in the win, and the defense scored the game's only touchdown on Micheal Clemons' 24-yard fumble return early in the fourth quarter. 

Isaiah Spiller was the offensive standout. Texas A&M's junior running back racked up 112 yards on 21 carries. 

Notable Game Stats

  • Zach Calzada (A&M): 15-of-29, 192 yards
  • Isaiah Spiller (A&M): 21 carries, 112 yards
  • Devon Achane (A&M): 10 carries, 98 yards
  • Bo Nix (AUB): 20-of-41, 153 yards, INT
  • Tank Bigsby (AUB): 15 carries, 69 yards
  • John Samuel Shenker (AUB): 4 receptions, 50 yards

Aggies Defense Leads the Way in Marquee Win

Defense has been the strength for Texas A&M this season. Alabama and Mississippi State are the only opponents that have scored more than 14 points against this group in 2021.

The Aggies offense has had some good moments this season, but there's no disputing it has a lot of room to improve. The unit into Saturday tied for 104th in the nation with 29.6 points per game.

That figure is going to go down after Saturday. There were plenty of sloppy moments against a good Auburn defense.

After picking up 80 yards on 14 plays and kicking a field goal on their opening drive, the Aggies rank a total of 24 plays over their next six drives. They had three three-and-outs during that span.

Neither offense was able to get any sustained momentum going in the first half.

The score remained tied at three until the 3:39 mark of the third quarter when Seth Small's 29-yard field goal put Texas A&M on top.

That field goal was set up by Calzada's 49-yard completion to Caleb Chapman.

Calzada appeared to suffer a shoulder injury on the drive, but he was able to remain in the game.

After the defense forced a three-and-out against Auburn, the Aggies were able to get another field goal from Small to go up 9-3 with 13:40 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Fittingly, Texas A&M's defense sealed the win on Auburn's ensuing possession. Nix fumbled the football without being touched, allowing Micheal Clemons to pick it up and run it in for the score.

Texas A&M converted a two-point conversion to make it a 17-3 game.   

Devon Achane looked like he was going to blow the game wide open after getting past the Auburn defense for a 68-yard gain, but he was caught from behind and lost the football. Roger McCreary picked it up for the Tigers at their own 5-yard line.

What seemed like a glimmer of hope for Auburn turned into more of the same for the offense. It gained 41 yards on 12 plays, but the drive stalled with a turnover on downs.

While this game wasn't pretty or technically sound, Texas A&M did show tremendous resolve with its stellar effort on defense.

Head coach Jimbo Fisher will have to get his offense back on track against better opposition, but this is an excellent win for the Aggies' resume against a quality opponent.    

Nix's Mistake Costs Tigers

There were some indications that Nix was taking steps forward in recent weeks. The junior quarterback went a combined 43-of-56 for 568 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in wins over Arkansas and Mississippi. 

Another reason to be optimistic that he could step up was Texas A&M's middling defensive stats relative to its competition.

Per Jason Caldwell of 247Sports, the Aggies allowed an average of 313 yards through the air this season against the top four passing teams they have played (Mississippi State, Alabama, Missouri, Arkansas). 

While no one would confuse Auburn for an air-raid offense, Nix's recent improvements made this an intriguing matchup. 

Instead, it looked like a lot of his other big-game performances. The Alabama native averaged 3.7 yards per attempt. 

This is basically the type of player Nix has been over the course of his Auburn career. He's made incremental improvements in three seasons, including a career-high completion percentage (62.9) and yards per attempt (7.3) in 2021 coming into Saturday. However, his efforts against the Aggies were far from enough.

Nix wasn't the only issue for the Tigers in the loss, though. They came into this game ranked 35th in the nation with 197.8 rushing yards per game. They were held to 73 yards on 29 carries. 

Kobe Hudson dropped a pass on the first play of Auburn's second possession that would have gone for a first down. The drive ultimately yielded a field goal, but the usually-surehanded Hudson only had one catch for eight yards. 

Auburn still has three games left, including home matchups with Mississippi State next week and the Iron Bowl against Alabama on Nov. 27. 

This is the type of performance that should force head coach Bryan Harsin and his staff to go back to the drawing board for the final stretch of the year. If the offense doesn't get better, this once-promising season could fall apart quickly.     

What's Next?

Auburn will host No. 17 Mississippi State at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Nov. 13 at 12 p.m. ET. Texas A&M will take on No. 16 Mississippi at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium next Saturday at 7 p.m. ET. 

This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.

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Bo Nix, No. 18 Auburn Upset Matt Corral, No. 10 Ole Miss 31-20 in SEC Action

Oct 31, 2021
AUBURN, ALABAMA - OCTOBER 30: Running back Tank Bigsby #4 of the Auburn Tigers runs the ball by defensive back Otis Reese #3 of the Mississippi Rebels during the first quarter of play at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 30, 2021 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
AUBURN, ALABAMA - OCTOBER 30: Running back Tank Bigsby #4 of the Auburn Tigers runs the ball by defensive back Otis Reese #3 of the Mississippi Rebels during the first quarter of play at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 30, 2021 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)

The No. 18 Auburn Tigers never trailed en route to beating the visiting No. 10 Ole Miss Rebels 31-20 on Saturday from Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama.

Auburn running back Tank Bigsby paced the Tigers offense with 140 rushing yards and one touchdown, which led to a 13-3 first-quarter lead.

Tigers quarterback Bo Nix added a pair of rushing scores and found Jarquez Hunter for a nine-yard touchdown pass with 11 seconds left in the first half to help give Auburn a 28-17 halftime edge.

Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral accounted for 334 total yards (289 passing, 45 rushing) and added an 11-yard score on the ground, which cut the Auburn lead to 21-16.

The star signal-caller suffered an apparent left leg injury after avoiding a sack late in the first quarter. Rebels staff examined him in the medical tent before he was carted to the locker room.

He was out for roughly six minutes of game time spanning the first and second quarters but returned with 9:59 left in the first half.

The 6-2 Tigers (3-1 SEC) have won four of their last five. The 6-2 Rebels (3-2 SEC) saw their three-game win streak end.

Notable Performances

Ole Miss QB Matt Corral: 21-of-37, 289 passing yards, 1 INT; 10 carries, 45 rushing yards, 1 TD

Ole Miss WR Jahcour Pearson: 7 catches, 135 yards

Auburn QB Bo Nix: 22-of-30, 276 passing yards, 1 TD; 8 carries, 30 rushing yards, 2 TD

Auburn RB Tank Bigsby: 23 carries, 140 rushing yards, 1 TD; 2 catches, 10 receiving yards

Bigsby, Nix Lead Tigers Offense

Bigsby started the year with three straight 100-yard rushing performances, but he amassed just 183 yards on 55 carries (3.3 YPC) over his past four games leading into the Ole Miss matchup.

However, Bigsby got back on track with a dominant outing Saturday, grinding down the Rebels defense with tough running.

"I seen in his eyes that he was going to come out and ball. I knew he was going to turn up," Auburn linebacker Zakoby McClain said postgame.

Nix also praised Bigsby's efforts, per Jordan D. Hill of the Opelika-Auburn News:"Tank's that guy that, he's going to be consistent...I think the main thing with him is he got a lot of carries tonight...He just did a good job of being a one-cut runner tonight."

Bigsby did most of his work on the ground, but he took to the air on his one-yard run:

"Before the play even started, I said in my head, 'I got to get in,'" Bigsby told reporters.

That he did, and Nix starred alongside him.

An 11-yard TD run that showed off his speed and elusiveness opened the scoring in the first quarter:

Nix later scooted around the left end for a seven-yard score to give Auburn a 20-10 advantage:

Before the half ended, Nix accounted for his third touchdown when he hit Hunter for six:

The second half wasn't as fruitful for the Auburn offense, but the Tigers were able to keep the ball for more than 33 minutes thanks largely to their quarterback and running back. The offensive line certainly had a good night as well, helping the Tigers amass 483 yards.

Overall, it was an impressive showing for the Auburn offense, whose 28-point first-half outburst ended up being enough for the win.

   

Fantastic Effort From Corral

Chase Parham of Rivals put it best on Saturday:

Corral had a host of obstacles to overcome. In addition to his team's shorthanded offense (and his own left ankle injury), he was tasked with leading the Rebels into a hostile environment to face a hot Tigers team.

The Heisman Trophy candidate was also playing through a right ankle injury suffered against Tennessee on Oct. 16, making matters even more difficult.

All things considered, he was impressive considering the circumstances.

The injured ankles didn't stop Corral from rushing for his 11-yard touchdown to bring Ole Miss within one score in the second quarter:

He found himself in some good collegiate star company after that touchdown:

The rest of the game didn't go so well for Corral and the Rebels, who managed just three second-half points in a matchup that devolved into a defensive slugfest.

However, Corral's resilience in the face of significant adversity is one of the night's clear takeaways, and ESPN's Molly McGrath gave him a huge compliment following his effort.

The night didn't end in victory for Ole Miss, but Corral and the Rebels can still stand tall after a strong effort.

    

What's Next?

Both teams will play Saturday.

Ole Miss will host Liberty in Oxford, Mississippi's Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Auburn will visit No. 14 Texas A&M at Kyle Field in College Station.

Stetson Bennett, No. 2 Georgia Dominate Bo Nix, No. 18 Auburn 34-10 in SEC Action

Oct 9, 2021
Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) carries the ball against Auburn during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Auburn, Aal. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) carries the ball against Auburn during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Auburn, Aal. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

No. 2 Georgia remained undefeated with a 34-10 road win over No. 18 Auburn. The Bulldogs were led by quarterback Stetson Bennett, who threw two touchdowns in the victory.

It's Georgia's fifth straight win in Deep South's Oldest Rivalry. The Bulldogs have won eight of the last 10 meetings over the Tigers.

Notable Performers

Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia: 14-of-21 for 231 YDS, 2 TD; 6 CAR for 41 YDS

Zamir White, RB, Georgia: 18 CAR for 79 YDS, 2 TD

Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia: 5 REC for 135 YDS, TD

Stetson Bennett More Than Just a Game Manager

With starting quarterback JT Daniels nursing a lat injury, Stetson Bennett got the start for Georgia on Saturday. Despite his reputation as a "game manager," Bennett outplayed that label and was a key part of Georgia's victory.

Bennett faced some early adversity after sustaining a hit to his helmet on a run, but he showed his toughness and remained in the game.

Georgia fell behind 3-0 in the first quarter, which was its first time trailing all season. Bennett led the Bulldogs to 17 straight points, including back-to-back touchdown drives.

Bennett was particularly great on the second scoring drive. He threw for 73 yards, including a 45-yard strike to Ladd McConkey.

Bennett then found Adonai Mitchell for a three-yard touchdown pass.

Midway through the third quarter, Bennett and McConkey connected on another big play, a 60-yard quick-strike touchdown on the first play of the possession.

Entering Saturday's game, Bennett made four appearances this season with two starts. Despite throwing for less than 100 yards twice this year, Bennett has proven that he's capable of big performances.

He threw five touchdown passes in the first half of Georgia's Sept. 11 win against UAB, tying the school record. Daniels sat out that game with an oblique injury. He's now missed three games this year.

Bennett's 231-yard performance against Auburn was his second highest total this season. As Georgia's dominance continues, the Bulldogs should feel comfortable with Bennett under center until Daniels fully recovers.

Auburn Falls Victim to Georgia's Defense

The Georgia defense has demoralized many teams this season, and Saturday's game against Auburn was no different.

The Tigers entered Saturday's game averaging 38.8 points, 478.0 yards offense and 238.2 on the ground. Against the Bulldogs, they were held to 46 rush yards and 318 total yards.

Auburn quarterback Bo Nix was under duress throughout the game and was sacked three times.

Auburn finally broke through in the third quarter with a six-yard touchdown run by Tank Bigsby. It was Georgia's first time allowing a touchdown since the fourth quarter of its Sept. 18 win over South Carolina. It was also the first time a team scored points in the third quarter against the Bulldogs all season.

The Tigers likely will not face a defensive front as strong as the Bulldogs for the rest of the season, so the team can find some solace in that.

What's Next?

Georgia returns home next Saturday to face No. 16 Kentucky. The Wildcats will be the Bulldogs' third straight ranked opponent. Auburn will be on the road against No. 13 Arkansas, which lost Saturday to No. 17 Ole Miss.

This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.

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SEC Releases Statement After Penn State Loses Down over Referee Error vs. Auburn

Sep 19, 2021
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - SEPTEMBER 18: Penn State Nittany Lions Tight End Tyler Warren (44) leaps over a line of players for a touchdown during the second half of the College Football game between the Auburn Tigers and the Penn State Nittany Lions on September 18, 2021, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - SEPTEMBER 18: Penn State Nittany Lions Tight End Tyler Warren (44) leaps over a line of players for a touchdown during the second half of the College Football game between the Auburn Tigers and the Penn State Nittany Lions on September 18, 2021, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The SEC released a statement saying the officiating crew made an error that cost Penn State a down in the second quarter in Saturday's game against Auburn.

An official set the down marker to third down after Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford was called for intentional grounding on a first-down pass. The mistake resulted in Penn State punting on what should have been third down.

"I talked to all of [the officials] and they said, look, they all agreed on the call, and so did the replay [official]," Penn State head coach James Franklin told reporters after the game. "They all agreed. I kept bringing them over and saying, 'It's not accurate.' I don't know what else I can tell them, but they all concurred, all the officials, they got on the headset, they talked to each other and they all agreed. They ran it by replay and they all agreed as well. I don't know what else I can do or say."

While the error came with Penn State trailing 10-7, the mistake did not ultimately factor in the result. The Lions scored a touchdown on their next offensive possession to go into the locker room ahead 14-10 and never trailed again in their 28-20 victory.

That said, it was a rough night for the officiating crew overall, with several missed or mistaken calls that left both sides frustrated. Penn State running back Noah Cain appeared to have been stopped for a safety late in the fourth quarter that would have made the score 28-22, but officials said he made it out of the Lions goal line. Penn State punted later in the possession and held on defensively for its second win over a Top 25 team this season.

Auburn Head Football Coach Bryan Harsin Announces He's Been Diagnosed with COVID-19

Aug 20, 2021
Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin speaks to reporters during the NCAA college football Southeastern Conference Media Days Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Hoover, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin speaks to reporters during the NCAA college football Southeastern Conference Media Days Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Hoover, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Auburn football head coach Bryan Harsin announced he has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

ESPN's Adam Rittenberg provided a statement from Harsin, who is asymptomatic and will take part in meetings and practices remotely while assistant head football coach Jeff Schmedding handles in-person head coaching duties:

It is unknown whether the 44-year-old is vaccinated. He declined to answer that question at SEC media days, saying that his choice was a personal decision:

Harsin also revealed at SEC media days that the team was about 60 percent vaccinated, per Nick Bromberg of Yahoo Sports. He said Aug. 5 that the team's vaccination numbers had improved but did not provide a percentage, per Tom Green of al.com.

The SEC's stated goal is to have all 14 conference teams hit an 80 percent roster vaccination threshold before the season starts Sept. 4, per Green. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said at media days, which occurred from July 19-22, that six of the teams had hit that mark.

Auburn is scheduled to open the 2021 season that day at home against Akron.

Harsin is in his first year as Auburn's head coach after leading the Boise State program from 2014-2020, amassing a 69-19 record and guiding the Broncos to four top-25 Associated Press poll finishes.

Bo Nix, Team Auburn Beat Team Tigers 17-3 in 2021 Auburn Spring Game

Apr 17, 2021
Auburn quarterback Bo Nix (10) passes the ball during the A-Day spring NCAA college football game, Saturday, April 17, 2021, at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Julie Bennett)
Auburn quarterback Bo Nix (10) passes the ball during the A-Day spring NCAA college football game, Saturday, April 17, 2021, at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Julie Bennett)

Team Auburn defeated Team Tigers 17-3 during the school's spring game Saturday afternoon. 

The program's first-team offense and defense comprised Team Auburn. 

Starting quarterback Bo Nix finished 12-of-20 through the air for 112 yards and a touchdown, leading the team on three first-half scoring drives (the game was just 32 minutes long, with eight-minute quarters). 

"I thought the quarterbacks made some good decisions," new head coach Bryan Harsin said afterward on the ESPN+ broadcast. "That's something you want to see. Good in the red zone."

Wideout Elijah Canion was the recipient of Nix's touchdown toss, while running back Tank Bigsby had 46-yard touchdown run (but also lost a fumble). 

Second-team quarterback Dematrius Davis also turned heads with his athleticism.

Auburn's defense looked ready for the season, with the first-team unit stifling the second-team offense and the second-team defenders holding their own against Nix and the first-team offense. 

"They played fast; they got to the ball," Harsin noted. "We had some turnovers, which was good."

All eyes will be on Harsin and his incoming philosophy. The first-year Tigers head coach already showed a departure from the Gus Malzahn era, with more quarterback snaps under center and a greater emphasis on power football (there were even some three-tight end sets). 

It's hard to truly gauge a team or its head coach in a spring game, with the regular season nearly five months away. But it's clear Auburn will have a new look on offense, with a greater emphasis on powering the ball between the tackles. 

The defense should be solid. If Nix and the offense adjust to the new philosophy, Auburn could be a dangerous team yet again. 

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