Auburn football blows lead, crashes and burns in loss at Missouri

Oct. 19, 2024, 9:30 p.m. Sports

Auburn football suffered a devastating loss on Saturday as they blew a 14-point lead and ultimately crashed and burned in a 34-31 defeat to Missouri. The Tigers entered the game with high hopes and a sense of momentum after a strong start to their season, but they couldn't hold off a resilient Missouri team that clawed its way back into the game.

The game started off well for Auburn, as they jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter behind some solid play from quarterback Bo Nix and running back Tank Bigsby. The offense was clicking, and the defense was able to contain Missouri's potent offense. However, as the game progressed, things began to unravel for the Tigers.

Missouri started to find success on offense, picking apart Auburn's defense with a balanced attack. Quarterback Connor Bazelak was able to find holes in the secondary and make some big plays down the field. The Missouri running game also started to gain traction, keeping the Auburn defense on its heels.

Despite the mounting pressure from Missouri, Auburn still held a 28-27 lead late in the fourth quarter. However, a costly turnover by Bo Nix gave Missouri excellent field position, and they were able to capitalize with a field goal to take a 30-28 lead. Auburn had one last chance to march down the field and reclaim the lead, but a missed field goal attempt sealed their fate.

The loss was a bitter pill to swallow for Auburn, as they let a golden opportunity slip through their fingers. Head coach Bryan Harsin lamented the missed opportunities and acknowledged that his team needs to learn how to finish games strong.

"We had our chances, but we couldn't put the game away when we had the lead," Harsin said. "We need to do a better job of closing out games and executing when it matters most."

The loss drops Auburn to 3-2 on the season and raises questions about their ability to compete with the top teams in the SEC. They will need to regroup quickly and refocus as they prepare for a tough stretch of games ahead.

For Missouri, the win was a much-needed boost for a team that has struggled at times this season. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz praised his team's resiliency and ability to come through in the clutch.

"I'm proud of our guys for fighting until the very end and finding a way to win," Drinkwitz said. "This is a big moment for our program, and hopefully, it will give us some momentum moving forward."

As Auburn licks its wounds and looks ahead to the rest of the season, they will need to address their issues and find a way to bounce back from this tough loss. The road ahead won't get any easier, but if they can learn from their mistakes and show some resilience of their own, they still have the potential to turn things around and salvage their season.