Myrick Minute: Could this game decide who finishes 15th in the SEC?- Opinion

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This game could decide if one of these teams makes a bowl game, with the loser potentially looking at a 15th-place finish in the SEC.

Auburn and Vanderbilt meet once again for a fourth straight season and the seventh time since 2008. The reason I mention 2008, well, the Commodores have had the better of the Tigers with a 4-2 record. Before that stretch, Auburn had rattled off 13 straight wins against Vanderbilt from 1978 to 2007 in their meetings. Back to today, Vanderbilt is looking to make it three straight seasons of beating Auburn after a 17-7 win in Jordan-Hare (2024) and a 45-38 win in Nashville (2025).

This game, though, is pivotal. Not only is Auburn head coach Alex Golesh looking for his first SEC win, but also the Tigers are looking for their first win since 2024 against Texas A&M. Using the sample size we have from last week's SEC matchup with the Florida Gators, well, it wasn't a pretty look for Auburn.

Okay, yes, this is a one-game sample, but the Tigers are giving up the most yardage on defense this season out of any SEC school with 384 yards per game. They rank dead last as well in run defense, something that we all thought the Tigers could manage to stop this season.

Well, here we are after a game that saw that defense give up 24 missed tackles, with your All-American linebacker Xavier Atkins giving up five and your top defensive transfer also with five. Defense is going to have to clean up and clean up fast; then it could be a long rest of the way on that side of the ball.

So what about that offense? Still haven't seen an opening-drive touchdown or even a score out of the Tigers. I do think we've seen improvement from Week 1, but they still have a ways to go, especially on the offensive line. Byrum Brown currently leads the nation in sacks and is also taking the longest to throw in the SEC. Brown and the offensive line have got to help one another. The line needs to hold up better and prevent constant collapsing pockets around Brown, while Brown needs to leave the pocket when that does happen or throw the ball away to prevent negative yardage plays.

I say all these negative plays to point out that Auburn has some crucial flaws that hurt them. The stretch ahead of them is going to be tough. As of Friday, Sept. 25, the Tigers will play six ranked SEC teams after Vanderbilt. Their best chances are going to come against a depressing Arkansas program and Samford, according to ESPN analytics. So that would mean a loss against Vanderbilt would conclude in a 5-7 record and one conference win. Makes me sick typing it, Auburn fans are rightfully frustrated with that record.

Tigers really need to win this game to have a shot at a bowl game this season. The other side of this matchup needs it just as much. Coming off a 10-win season, Vanderbilt and head coach Clark Lea could be staring at a four-win season. The Commodores will also see six currently ranked SEC teams after Auburn.

They are starting a true freshman at quarterback in five-star Jared Curtis. He will have his growing pains that could cost Vanderbilt some ball games. At the end of the day, this game will be a big swing for one team's momentum for the rest of the year.

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This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Myrick Minute: Could this game decide who finishes 15th in the SEC?- Opinion

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