By Ethan Burke
There is no question that Auburn Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn has been on the bubble for quite some time now. The Tigers have definitely found a lot of success under Malzahn, but they also have shown some inconsistency during his tenure that frustrated a lot of Auburn fans. This Saturday is a great opportunity for Malzahn as his Tigers travel to Athens for a college gameday showdown against the Georgia Bulldogs.
The last time that Auburn beat Georgia was November 17, 2017, and Georgia then beat them in the rematch for the SEC championship just three weeks after. This means that Kirby Smart has outlasted Malzahn three years in a row, so a win this weekend would be huge if he wants to compete with the best.
Some notable records that Malzahn has produced from 2014-2018 are going 8-19 against ranked teams, 2-13 against top-10 teams, and 6-6 against top-25 teams. In 2019, Malzahn’s Tigers went 8-5 with an Outback Bowl appearance that resulted in a loss to Minnesota.
However, Malzahn has recorded some great numbers during his tenure such as beating arch rival Nick Saban three times, which very few coaches have done. Malzahn has also led Auburn to a bowl game every season he’s been there, an SEC championship, and a national championship appearance in his first season.
Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s a great coach with an excellent football mind and great personality, but his hot seat is definitely boiling up at this point, with fans that are tired of inconsistency and losing games that maybe should have been won. This weekend provides Malzahn with a chance to prove that he deserves to stay and is one of the elite coaches in the SEC.
Tune in to ESPN this Saturday at 6:30pm to watch the Auburn Tigers take on the Georgia Bulldogs.
Edited by Emma Moloney