Auburn enjoyed a welcome reprieve from the vigor of one of the nation’s toughest schedules last weekend, with the team’s bye week coming at an opportune time for the program.
At 5-2 overall and 2-1 in SEC play, Auburn was off in Week 8. It gave the Tigers a chance for recovery, as well as an opportunity to look inward and focus on improving in some key areas as they prepare for the back stretch of their first season under head coach Bryan Harsin.
Read more Auburn football: Two questions for Bryan Harsin for the final five games of the season
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With the team off last weekend, let’s take a look at where Auburn stands statistically in various categories, both in the SEC and among FBS teams, as the Tigers turn the page to another ranked matchup against No. 10 Ole Miss coming off the bye:
RUSHING OFFENSE (SEC rank, FBS rank)
2013: 328.3 (1st, 1st)
2014: 255.5 (2nd, 13th)
2015: 196.4 (5th, 35th)
2016: 271.3 (1st, 6th)
2017: 218.3 (4th, 26th)
2018: 167.5 (10th, 68th)
2019: 199.1 (4th, 33rd)
2020: 162.5 (7th, 67th)
After Akron: 316.0 (3rd, 11th)
After Alabama State: 340.0 (2nd, 3rd)
After Penn State: 287.3 (3rd, 7th)
After Georgia State: 257.0 (4th, 9th)
After LSU: 238.2 (4th, 12th)
After Georgia: 206.2 (6th, 32nd)
After Arkansas: 196.0 (5th, 36th)
After bye week: 196.0 (5th, 36th)
Why: Auburn rushed for 135 yards against Arkansas before the bye.
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PASSING OFFENSE
2013: 173.0 (11th, 106th)
2014: 229.5 (7th, 66th)
2015: 173.6 (12th, 110th)
2016: 169.5 (14th, 112th)
2017: 233.4 (5th, 65th)
2018: 222.5 (9th, 74th)
2019: 207.5 (9th, 87th)
2020: 220.3 (10th, 71st)
After Akron: 297.0 (6th, 29th)
After Alabama State: 235.0 (10th, 65th)
After Penn State: 218.3 (9th, 77th)
After Georgia State: 227.0 (9th, 72nd)
After LSU: 239.6 (6th, 58th)
After Georgia: 245.0 (6th, 57th)
After Arkansas: 251.7 (6th, 49th)
After bye week: 251.7 (6th, 49th)
Why: Auburn threw for 292 yards against Arkansas before the bye.
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PASS EFFICIENCY OFFENSE
2013: 149.63 (6th, 24th)
2014: 156.79 (1st, 8th)
2015: 124.47 (10th, 79th)
2016: 135.17 (6th, 54th)
2017: 153.59 (5th, 13th)
2018: 140.11 (8th, 51st)
2019: 128.35 (9th, 89th)
2020: 122.96 (11th, 89th)
After Akron: 210.55 (1st, 9th)
After Alabama State: 200.61 (1st, 4th)
After Penn State: 151.55 (7th, 41st)
After Georgia State: 137.01 (12th, 77th)
After LSU: 129.00 (12th, 90th)
After Georgia: 124.15 (12th, 96th)
After Arkansas: 131.43 (12, 87th)
After bye week: 131.43 (12th, 92nd)
Why: Bo Nix completed 21-of-26 passes for 292 yards, two touchdowns and an interception before the bye week.
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TOTAL OFFENSE
2013: 501.3 (2nd, 11th)
2014: 485.0 (2nd, 16th)
2015: 370.0 (10th, 94th)
2016: 440.8 (6th, 43rd)
2017: 451.6 (3rd, 26th)
2018: 389.9 (11th, 78th)
2019: 406.5 (6th, 64th)
2020: 382.8 (9th, 77th)
After Akron: 613.0 (1st, 1st)
After Alabama State: 575.0 (3rd, 7th)
After Penn State: 505.7 (4th, 18th)
After Georgia State: 484.0 (3rd, 18th)
After LSU: 477.8 (3rd, 17th)
After Georgia: 451.2 (7th, 31st)
After Arkansas: 447.7 (6th, 30th)
After bye week: 447.7 (6th, 30th)
Why: Auburn had 427 yards of offense against Arkansas before the bye.
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SCORING OFFENSE
2013: 39.5 (2nd, 12th)
2014: 35.5 (4th, 35th)
2015: 27.5 (8th, 75th)
2016: 31.2 (6th, 49th)
2017: 33.9 (4th, 27th)
2018: 30.9 (8th, 47th)
2019: 33.2 (3rd, 28th)
2020: 25.1 (9th, 89th)
After Akron: 60.0 (1st, 3rd)
After Alabama State: 61.0 (1st, 1st)
After Penn State: 45.3 (2nd, 7th)
After Georgia State: 42.5 (3rd, 11th)
After LSU: 38.8 (5th, 14th)
After Georgia: 34.0 (6th, 36th)
After Arkansas: 34.6 (5th, 26th)
After bye week: 34.6 (5th, 24th)
Why: Auburn scored 38 points against Arkansas, though one touchdown came via the defense before the bye week.
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SACKS ALLOWED
2013: 18 sacks, 1.29 per game (3rd, 22nd)
2014: 15 sacks, 1.15 per game (3rd, 15th)
2015: 19 sacks, 1.46 per game (4th, 33rd)
2016: 19 sacks, 1.46 per game (3rd, 27th)
2017: 36 sacks, 2.57 per game (10th, 100th)
2018: 23 sacks, 1.77 per game (6th, 39th)
2019: 18, 1.38 per game (4th, 18th)
2020: 20, 1.82 per game (6th, 41st)
After Akron: 0, 0.00 per game (1st, 1st)
After Alabama State: 1, 0.50 per game (1st, 5th)
After Penn State: 1, 0.33 per game (1st, 3rd)
After Georgia State: 3, 0.75 per game (2nd, 7th)
After LSU: 3, 0.60 per game (2nd, 6th)
After Georgia: 7, 1.17 per game (4th, 16th)
After Arkansas: 7, 1.00 per game (3rd, 10th)
After bye week: 7, 1.00 per game (3rd, 10th)
Why: Auburn did not give up a sack against Arkansas before the bye week.
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THIRD-DOWN CONVERSIONS
2013: 46.5 percent (4th, 24th)
2014: 52.5 percent (1st, 2nd)
2015: 41.3 percent (6th, 49th)
2016: 41.8 percent (4th, 53rd)
2017: 45.5 percent (3rd, 15th)
2018: 36.9 percent (11th, 90th)
2019: 40.5 percent (6th, 60th)
2020: 44.9 percent (6th, 32nd)
After Akron: 66.7 percent (2nd, 2nd)
After Alabama State: 58.8 percent (2nd, 8th)
After Penn State: 58.8 percent (1st, 3rd)
After Georgia State: 53.7 percent (5th, 11th)
After LSU: 51.4 percent (3rd, 11th)
After Georgia: 46.6 percent (5th, 24th)
After Arkansas: 45.9 percent (5th, 28th)
After bye week: 45.9 percent (6th, 26th)
Why: Auburn converted 4-of-10 third downs against Arkansas before the bye.
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RED ZONE OFFENSE
2013: 88.5 percent (2nd, 21st)
2014: 87.9 percent (4th, 31st)
2015: 90.2 percent (2nd, 13th)
2016: 85.5 percent (5th, 52nd)
2017: 88.1 percent (6th, 36th)
2018: 81.1 percent (11th, 88th)
2019: 90.4 percent (3rd, 21st)
2020: 85.0 percent (6th, 50th)
After Akron: 100.0 percent (1st, 2nd)
After Alabama State: 100.0 percent (1st, 1st)
After Penn State: 90.9 percent (7th, 45th)
After Georgia State: 92.9 (4th, 23rd)
After LSU: 93.8 percent (3rd, 22nd)
After Georgia: 89.5 percent (5th, 39th)
After Arkansas: 90.9 percent (4th, 24th)
After bye week: 90.9 percent (4th, 23rd)
Why: Auburn was 3-for-3 on red-zone scoring opportunities, with two touchdowns and a field goal against Arkansas before the bye week.
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RUSHING DEFENSE
2013: 162.1 (10th, 62nd)
2014: 168.8 (10th, 67th)
2015: 182.7 (11th, 81st)
2016: 132.8 (3rd, 27th)
2017: 137.0 (5th, 35th)
2018: 135.9 (6th, 32nd)
2019: 123.2 (4th, 25th)
2020: 163.4 (8th, 62nd)
After Akron: -3.0 (1st, 2nd)
After Alabama State: 21.5 (1st, 1st)
After Penn State: 45.7 (1st, 3rd)
After Georgia State: 98.5 (4th, 27th)
After LSU: 85.4 (2nd, 8th)
After Georgia: 104.7 (3rd, 23rd)
After Arkansas: 122.9 (5th, 35th)
After bye week: 122.9 (5th, 32nd)
Why: Auburn gave up 232 rushing yards to Arkansas before the bye.
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PASSING DEFENSE
2013: 258.6 (13th, 100th)
2014: 230.1 (12th, 68th)
2015: 222.5 (11th, 63rd)
2016: 229.2 (9th, 67th)
2017: 182.4 (5th, 18th)
2018: 219.5 (7th, 58th)
2019: 213.8 (8th, 47th)
2020: 242.6 (4th, 79th)
After Akron: 191.0 (8th, 53rd)
After Alabama State: 160.5 (4th, 28th)
After Penn State: 207.7 (10th, 65th)
After Georgia State: 185.0 (8th, 34th)
After LSU: 213.0 (9th, 55th)
After Georgia: 216.0 (9th, 52nd)
After Arkansas: 217.7 (9th, 56th)
After bye week: 217.7 (8th, 53rd)
Why: Auburn gave up 228 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns against Arkansas before the bye.
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PASS EFFICIENCY DEFENSE
2013: 126.88 (9th, 63rd)
2014: 124.19 (10th, 52nd)
2015: 116.99 (8th, 31st)
2016: 116.83 (4th, 22nd)
2017: 113.84 (4th, 19th)
2018: 118.12 (6th, 31st)
2019: 120.71 (9th, 32nd)
2020: 139.34 (7th, 75th)
After Akron: 153.13 (13th, 98th)
After Alabama State: 123.69 (10th, 68th)
After Penn State: 144.08 (13th, 100th)
After Georgia State: 136.87 (12th, 84th)
After LSU: 131.61 (11th, 71st)
After Georgia: 138.48 (10th, 79th)
After Arkansas: 137.68 (9th, 83rd)
After bye week: 137.68 (9th, 81st)
Why: Arkansas’ K.J. Jefferson completed 21-of-35 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns against Auburn before the bye week.
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TOTAL DEFENSE
2013: 420.7 (12th, 86th)
2014: 398.8 (9th, 64th)
2015: 405.2 (13th, 71st)
2016: 361.9 (5th, 28th)
2017: 319.4 (5th, 14th)
2018: 355.4 (8th, 38th)
2019: 337.0 (7th, 28th)
2020: 406.0 (6th, 63rd)
After Akron: 188.0 (4th, 10th)
After Alabama State: 182.0 (2nd, 3rd)
After Penn State: 253.3 (3rd, 13th)
After Georgia State: 283.5 (4th, 19th)
After LSU: 298.4 (5th, 22nd)
After Georgia: 320.7 (6th, 32nd)
After Arkansas: 340.6 (6th, 39th)
After bye week: 340.6 (8th, 40th)
Why: Auburn gave up 460 yards of total offense against Arkansas before the bye week.
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SCORING DEFENSE
2013: 24.7 (9th, 48th)
2014: 26.7 (10th, 62nd)
2015: 26.0 (11th, 54th)
2016: 17.1 (4th, 7th)
2017: 18.5 (3rd, 12th)
2018: 19.2 (4th, 14th)
2019: 19.5 (6th, 17th)
2020: 24.7 (4th, 38th)
After Akron: 10.0 (4th, 21st)
After Alabama State: 5.0 (1st, 1st)
After Penn State: 12.7 (3rd, 13th)
After Georgia State: 15.5 (4th, 17th)
After LSU: 16.2 (3rd, 16th)
After Georgia: 19.2 (5th, 26th)
After Arkansas: 19.7 (4th, 32nd)
After bye week: 19.7 (4th, 29th)
Why: Auburn allowed 23 points against Arkansas before the bye.
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SACKS
2013: 32 sacks, 2.29 per game (4th, 46th)
2014: 21 sacks, 1.62 per game (11th, 95th)
2015: 19 sacks, 1.46 per game (13th, 104th)
2016: 25 sacks, 1.92 per game (8th, 75th)
2017: 37 sacks, 2.64 per game (5th, 25th)
2018: 38, 2.92 per game (3rd, 16th)
2019: 28 sacks, 2.15 per game (9th, 64th)
2020: 26 sacks, 2.36 per game (6th, 53rd)
After Akron: 7 sacks, 7.00 per game (2nd, 3rd)
After Alabama State: 9 sacks, 4.50 per game (4th, 9th)
After Penn State: 9 sacks, 3.00 per game (5th, 22nd)
After Georgia State: 12 sacks, 3.00 per game (5th, 32nd)
After LSU: 15, 3.00 per game (4th, 24th)
After Georgia: 16, 2.67 per game (6th, 36th)
After Arkansas: 19, 2.71 per game (6th, 29th)
After bye week: 19, 2.71 per game (7th, 31st)
Why: Auburn had three sacks against Arkansas before the bye.
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THIRD-DOWN DEFENSE
2013: 33.0 percent (1st, 13th)
2014: 36.0 percent (4th, 29th)
2015: 44.9 percent (13th, 109th)
2016: 34.8 percent (4th, 25th)
2017: 32.9 percent (3rd, 20th)
2018: 34.7 percent (6th, 30th)
2019: 29.9 percent (2nd, 8th)
2020: 50.3 percent (14th, 121st)
After Akron: 21.4 percent (3rd, 14th)
After Alabama State: 24.1 percent (3rd, 12th)
After Penn State: 30.8 percent (5th, 28th)
After Georgia State: 34.5 percent (8th, 51st)
After LSU: 34.7 percent (8th, 45th)
After Georgia: 35.3 percent (7th, 47th)
After Arkansas: 38.5 percent (8th, 66th)
After bye week: 38.5 percent (7th, 58th)
Why: Arkansas converted 10-of-19 third-down tries against Auburn before the bye.
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RED ZONE DEFENSE
2013: 73.1 percent (2nd, 10th)
2014: 74.1 percent (4th, 13th)
2015: 75.5 percent (5th, 15th)
2016: 74.4 percent (3rd, 11th)
2017: 83.3 percent (6th, 64th)
2018: 82.9 percent (9th, 64th)
2019: 71.8 percent (2nd, 8th)
2020: 76.3 percent (3rd, 27th)
After Akron: 100.0 percent (7th, 62nd)
After Alabama State: 66.7 percent (3rd, 26th)
After Penn State: 85.7 percent (8th, 79th)
After Georgia State: 90.0 percent (9th, 97th)
After LSU: 92.9 percent (12th, 112th)
After Georgia: 94.7 percent (14th, 123rd)
After Arkansas: 90.9 percent (10th, 106th)
After bye week: 90.9 percent (10th, 109th)
Why: Arkansas scored on two of its three red-zone trips, with two touchdowns, against Auburn before the bye.
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NET PUNTING
2013: 40.54 (2nd, 9th)
2014: 37.44 (12th, 67th)
2015: 37.58 (7th, 54th)
2016: 39.90 (5th, 21st)
2017: 35.61 (14th, 115th)
2018: 41.91 (2nd, 5th)
2019: 38.50 (9th, 63rd)
2020: 38.70 (9th, 64th)
After Akron: 31.0 (11th, 114th)
After Alabama State: 36.33 (11th, 99th)
After Penn State: 41.00 (6th, 47th)
After Georgia State: 43.25 (3rd, 15th)
After LSU: 42.53 (4th, 20th)
After Georgia: 43.48 (3rd, 15th)
After Arkansas: 43.20 (2nd, 13th)
After bye week: 43.20 (2nd, 12th)
Why: Auburn averaged 41.8 net yards per punt against Arkansas before the bye.
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KICK RETURNS
2013: 23.40 (5th, 27th)
2014: 20.03 (11th, 82nd)
2015: 27.94 (2nd, 4th)
2016: 19.04 (12th, 100th)
2017: 23.22 (3rd, 25th)
2018: 21.52 (6th, 48th)
2019: 20.50 (7th, 67th)
2020: 21.96 (6th, 43rd)
After Akron: 20.33 (6th, 42nd)
After Alabama State: 20.33 (8th, 61st)
After Penn State: 20.33 (7th, 63rd)
After Georgia State: 28.25 (3rd, 16th)
After LSU: 27.22 (4th, 20th)
After Georgia: 25.00 (5th, 27th)
After Arkansas: 25.00 (5th, 29th)
After bye week: 25.00 (5th, 28th)
Why: Auburn did not return a kickoff against Arkansas before the bye.
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KICK RETURN DEFENSE
2013: 25.79 (14th, 121st)
2014: 21.73 (9th, 84th)
2015: 21.17 (12th, 61st)
2016: 18.00 (1st, 13th)
2017: 27.20 (14th, 129th)
2018: 19.44 (3rd, 39th)
2019: 22.30 (11th, 96th)
2020: 26.67 (13th, 121st)
After Akron: 15.33 (4th, 48th)
After Alabama State: 14.25 (3rd, 22nd)
After Penn State: 14.83 (3rd, 24th)
After Georgia State: 14.83 (2nd, 14th)
After LSU: 15.14 (2nd, 13th)
After Georgia: 17.25 (2nd, 21st)
After Arkansas: 18.78 (7th, 44th)
After bye week: 18.78 (6th, 37th)
Why: Auburn allowed one 31-yard kickoff return against Arkansas before the bye.
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PUNT RETURNS
2013: 11.78 (2nd, 22nd)
2014: 17.82 yards per return (1st, 4th)
2015: 11.93 yards per return (7th, 28th)
2016: 10.69 (5th, 24th)
2017: 8.52 (8th, 51st)
2018: 10.75 (6th, 39th)
2019: 12.83 (4th, 18th)
2020: 9.11 (6th, 44th)
After Akron: 15.0 (2nd, 16th)
After Alabama State: 15.50 (2nd, 25th)
After Penn State: 14.33 (1st, 24th)
After Georgia State: 14.00 (1st, 29th)
After LSU: 14.00 (1st, 21st)
After Georgia: 12.44 (2nd, 27th)
After Arkansas: 12.00 (1st, 26th)
After bye week: 12.00 (2nd, 28th)
Why: Auburn had one punt return for 8 yards against Arkansas before the bye.
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PUNT RETURN DEFENSE
2013: 7.0 (8th, 51st)
2014: 7.79 (10th, 72nd)
2015: 12.43 (11th, 110th)
2016: 3.17 (1st, 8th)
2017: 11.43 (14th, 108th)
2018: 3.36 (3rd, 9th)
2019: 17.29 (14th, 130th)
2020: 2.75 (3rd, 17th)
After Akron: 1.0 (10th, 66th)
After Alabama State: 1.0 (4th, 40th)
After Penn State: 8.5 (8th, 89th)
After Georgia State: 8.5 (9th, 83rd)
After LSU: 8.5 (9th, 85th)
After Georgia: 6.0 (7th, 53rd)
After Arkansas: 5.5 (6th, 48th)
After bye week: 5.5 (5th, 44th)
Why: Auburn allowed one punt return for 4 yards against Arkansas before the bye.
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TURNOVER MARGIN
2013: even, 0.0 per game (9th, 61st)
2014: plus-seven, 0.54 per game (4th, 27th)
2015: plus-two, 0.15 per game (8th, 51st)
2016: plus-three, plus-0.23 per game (6th, 42nd)
2017: minus-one, 0.07 per game (7th, 71st)
2018: plus-nine, 0.69 (3rd, 16th)
2019: plus-six, 0.46 per game (3rd, 27th)
2020: plus-four, 0.36 per game (6th, 38th)
After Akron: zero, 0.0 per game (7th, 60th)
After Alabama State: plus-one, 0.50 per game (6th, 43rd)
After Penn State: plus-one, 0.33 per game (6th, 52nd)
After Georgia State: plus-one, 0.25 per game (8th, 58th)
After LSU: plus-two, 0.40 per game (6th, 47th)
After Georgia: plus-one, 0.17 per game (10th, 64th)
After Arkansas: plus-one, 0.14 per game (9th, 66th)
After bye week: plus-one, 0.14 per game (8th, 55th)
Why: Auburn threw an interception but also forced a fumble for a touchdown against Arkansas before the bye.
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PENALTY YARDS PER GAME
2013: 40.64 (7th 30th)
2014: 68.92 (14th, 112th)
2015: 46.38 (7th, 34th)
2016: 36.54 (1st, 6th)
2017: 38.36 (2nd, 13th)
2018: 56.69 (9th, 75th)
2019: 55.23 (10th, 74th)
2020: 49.82 (7th, 56th)
After Akron: 25.0 (3rd, 15th)
After Alabama State: 46.00 (3rd, 41st)
After Penn State: 45.67 (2nd, 31st)
After Georgia State: 50.50 (4th, 47th)
After LSU: 49.40 (3rd, 51st)
After Georgia: 46.83 (4th, 38th)
After Arkansas: 47.14 (4th, 41st)
After bye week: 47.14 (5th, 39th)
Why: Auburn committed six penalties for 49 yards against Arkansas before the bye.
Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.
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