Missouri’s very first trip to Jordan-Hare Stadium was an unforgettable one, if for all the wrong reasons. Nathaniel Peat took an inside zone run all the way to the end zone, but he fumbled just inches shy of the goal line. Auburn safety Cayden Bridges fell on the loose ball to seal the 17-14 victory for the home Tigers.
In what was arguably Mizzou’s most heartbreaking loss since the infamous “Fifth Down Game” against Colorado in 1990, the Tigers had several opportunities to seal the win, but they never got the job done.
Auburn stormed out to a 14-0 lead after a pair of rushing touchdowns from Robby Ashford and Tank Bigsby respectively. This matchup was trending in the direction of the Kansas State game for Mizzou as it appeared Auburn was going to run away with the win. However, Mizzou’s offense came to life in the second quarter with back to back touchdown drives, including a fourth-and-goal quarterback sneak with Brady Cook to tie it up just before the half.
Mizzou’s defense was able to rebound from a slow start as it shut out the depleted Auburn offense for the remainder of regulation. Blake Baker’s defense keyed in on the run, and his Tigers held Auburn to just 1.8 yards per carry.
Auburn entered Saturday’s matchup shorthanded at quarterback with transfer Zach Calzada opting to have season-ending surgery on his non-throwing shoulder. T.J. Finley, who started the first three games of the season for Auburn, was unavailable against Mizzou due to a shoulder injury suffered the week prior against Penn State.
To make matters worse, Robby Ashford had to leave the game in the third quarter after getting injured while blocking on a trick play. This briefly forced true freshman Holden Geriner into action before Ashford eventually returned.
Auburn’s coach Bryan Harsin clearly didn’t trust his inexperienced signal callers, which made his offense very predictable.
The second half started out with Mizzou and Auburn combining for 12 consecutive punts with neither side being able to gain any momentum offensively.
Auburn was finally able to break through when Ashford found Koy Moore down the sideline on an impressive back-shoulder grab. However, Mizzou’s defense didn’t budge, and it was able to stuff Bigsby on a critical fourth-and-1.
Dominic Lovett appeared to have put the game on ice with a fantastic diving grab that put Mizzou at the 3-yard line with Auburn unable to stop the clock. Eliah Drinkwitz did what you would expect any head coach with a preseason All-American kicker to do, kneel the clock out and set Harrison Mevis up with a 26-yard chip shot. Mevis’ 26-yard attempt sailed wide right, shocking both Tiger sidelines.
The special teams’ blunders for Missouri continued into overtime as a costly offsides penalty gave Anders Carlson a second chance at a go-ahead field goal after his first attempt missed badly to the left. Carlson would take advantage of his mulligan by hitting the go-ahead kick from 39 yards out.
Auburn survived with a 17-14 victory in its conference opener. It was a much needed win after an embarrassing 41-12 loss to Penn State the week prior. This win didn’t just save Auburn’s bowl ambitions, it may very well have saved Harsin’s job.
Harsin entered 2022 on the hot seat, and a 29-point loss to the Nittany Lions didn’t help matters. There were reports that Harsin would be out at Auburn had he lost to Missouri on Saturday.
Thanks to a series of late mistakes from Mizzou, fans will never know if those reports were accurate.
Mizzou fell to 2-9 on the road under Drinkwitz, and the Tigers remain winless against Auburn since joining the SEC.
Auburn(3-1) hosts LSU in Week 5 under the lights in a heated SEC West rivalry.
Missouri(2-2) welcomes the top ranked Georgia Bulldogs to Faurot Field as it looks to bounce back from a devastating loss.