Statistically speaking: Where Auburn stands coming off the bye week

Statistically speaking: Where Auburn stands coming off the bye week

Auburn had a week to look itself in the mirror and do some introspection after a third straight loss that dropped the program below .500 as it hit the bye week.

There was plenty for Bryan Harsin’s team to address, too, as the Tigers assessed where things stood for them through seven games and aimed to regroup for the back end of their 2022 slate. With five regular-season games remaining — beginning with Saturday’s 11 a.m. home matchup against Arkansas — Auburn has a lot of work to do not just to try to become bowl eligible but to try to right a wayward ship that has been unable to correct course over the last 12 months (a span during which the team has gone 3-9 under Harsin).

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Coming off the bye week, Auburn ranks at or near the bottom of the SEC — and in some cases, all of FBS — in several statistical categories in all three phases of the game. The Tigers are 13th in the SEC and 103rd nationally in passing offense, last in the SEC and 115th among FBS teams in passing efficiency, and 13th in the league and 108th nationally in scoring offense. The Tigers are 12th in the league and 96th nationally in sacks allowed, last in the SEC and 109th nationally in third-down conversions and dead-last in the country in turnover margin.

Defensively, Auburn ranks last in the conference and 109th among FBS programs in run defense, 10th in the league and 81st nationally in total defense and 12th/83rd in scoring defense. The Tigers are 11th and 101st in third-down defense, and they’re 13th in the SEC and 111th nationally in red-zone defense.

Auburn is also among the worst nationally in kickoff return defense, though it has done well in other areas on special teams.

While there are many areas of concern for Auburn with five games remaining, it’s not all bad for the Tigers. Pass defense has been solid for much of the year, and the rushing attack may have found some new life during the team’s Week 7 loss to Ole Miss. Still, there’s an abundance of work that needs to be done and little time to correct course if the team hopes to salvage what has been an overall disappointing season to this point.

Here’s a closer look at those numbers and where Auburn stacks up in the SEC and FBS in various statistical categories as it returns to the field this week:

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)

2021: 161.5 (9th, 66th)

After Mercer: 285.0 (3rd, 14th)

After San Jose State: 247.5 (3rd, 14th)

After Penn State: 204.7 (6th 40th)

After Missouri: 174.0 (10th, 57th)

After LSU: 159.4 (10th, 66th)

After Georgia: 148.3 (10th, 75th)

After Ole Miss: 170.1 (8th, 53rd)

After bye week: 170.1 (8th, 56th)

Why: Auburn ran for a season-high 301 yards against Ole Miss 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)

2021: 240.0 (8th, 59th)

After Mercer: 212.0 (11th, 84th)

After San Jose State: 190.0 (12th, 103rd)

After Penn State: 225.3 (9th, 87th)

After Missouri: 202.8 (12th, 103rd)

After LSU: 229.6 (9th, 82nd)

After Georgia: 218.8 (11th, 97th)

After Ole Miss: 207.6 (13th, 104th)

After bye week: 207.6 (13th, 102nd)

Why: Auburn threw for 140 yards against Ole Miss 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)

2021: 126.85 (12th, 94th)

After Mercer: 143.37 (9th, 61st)

After San Jose State: 123.23 (12th, 94th)

After Penn State: 121.20 (12th, 104th)

After Missouri: 121.09 (13th, 105th)

After LSU: 122.98 (13th, 101st)

After Georgia: 113.77 (14th, 114th)

After Ole Miss: 111.96 (14th, 115th)

After bye week: 111.96 (14th, 115th)

Why: Robby Ashford completed 8-of-17 passes for 140 yards and two interceptions against Ole Miss before the bye.

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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)

2021: 401.5 (10th, 67th)

After Mercer: 497.0 (7th, 49th)

After San Jose State: 437.5 (9th, 57th)

After Penn State: 430.0 (8th, 61st)

After Missouri: 376.8 (12th, 89th)

After LSU: 389.0 (10th, 80th)

After Georgia: 367.2 (12th, 94th)

After Ole Miss: 377.7 (10th, 81st)

After bye week: 377.7 (9th, 80th)

Why: Auburn had 441 yards of offense against Ole Miss 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)

2021: 27.8 (11th, 71st)

After Mercer: 42.0 (7th, 34th)

After San Jose State: 33.0 (9th, 67th)

After Penn State: 26.0 (11th, 91st)

After Missouri: 23.8 (13th, 100th)

After LSU: 22.4 (13th, 107th)

After Georgia: 20.3 (14th, 112th)

After Ole Miss: 22.3 (13th, 106th)

After bye week: 22.3 (13th, 108th)

Why: Auburn scored 34 points in Week 7.

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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 sacks, 1.38 per game (4th, 18th)

2020: 20 sacks, 1.82 per game (6th, 41st)

2021: 22 sacks, 1.69 per game (5th, 31st)

After Mercer: 0 sacks, 0.00 per game (1st, 1st)

After San Jose State: 1 sack, 0.50 per game (2nd, 12th)

After Penn State: 8 sacks, 2.33 per game (10th, 84th)

After Missouri: 12 sacks, 3.00 per game (12th, 112th)

After LSU: 15 sacks, 3.00 per game (12th, 111th)

After Georgia: 15 sacks, 2.50 per game (11th, 95th)

After Ole Miss: 18 sacks, 2.57 per game (12th, 102nd)

After bye week: 18 sacks, 2.57 per game (12th, 96th)

Why: Auburn gave up three sacks against Ole Miss before the bye.

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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)

2021: 40.2 percent (8th, 61st)

After Mercer: 50.0 percent (7th, 40th)

After San Jose State: 42.1 percent (8th, 57th)

After Penn State: 38.2 percent (10th, 78th)

After Missouri: 32.0 percent (13th, 114th)

After LSU: 33.8 percent (12th, 105th)

After Georgia: 32.9 percent (14th, 114th)

After Ole Miss: 33.3 percent (14th, 108th)

After bye week: 33.3 percent (14th, 109th)

Why: Auburn converted five of its 14 third-down attempts in Week 7.

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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)

2021: 84.8 percent (7th, 55th)

After Mercer: 100.0 percent (1st, 1st)

After San Jose State: 100.0 percent (1st, 1st)

After Penn State: 83.3 percent (11th, 73rd)

After Missouri: 85.7 percent (8th, 62nd)

After LSU: 82.4 percent (10th, 75th)

After Georgia: 83.3 percent (7th, 64th)

After Ole Miss: 86.4 percent (7th, 46th)

After bye week: 86.4 percent (8th, 50th)

Why: Auburn scored on all four of its red-zone trips against Ole Miss, with three touchdowns and a field goal in Week 7.

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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)

2021: 128.1 (5th, 29th)

After Mercer: 74.0 (3rd, 25th)

After San Jose State: 64.0 (1st, 10th)

After Penn State: 124.3 (8th, 55th)

After Missouri: 126.5 (10th, 52nd)

After LSU: 138.2 (9th, 65th)

After Georgia: 163.8 (11th, 92nd)

After Ole Miss: 204.4 (14th, 120th)

After bye week: 204.4 (14th, 119th)

Why: Ole Miss ran for 448 yards against Auburn in Week 7.

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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)

2021: 245.8 (12th, 96th)

After Mercer: 197.0 (7th, 56th)

After San Jose State: 236.0 (11th, 83rd)

After Penn State: 234.7 (11th, 81st)

After Missouri: 220.8 (10th, 65th)

After LSU: 193.6 (7th, 35th)

After Georgia: 196.0 (8th, 32nd)

After Ole Miss: 186.6 (5th, 20th)

After bye week: 186.6 (4th, 19th)

Why: Ole Miss threw for 130 yards against Auburn in Week 7.

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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)

2021: 136.73 (9th, 75th)

After Mercer: 122.63 (9th, 66th)

After San Jose State: 120.06 (10th, 63rd)

After Penn State: 129.03 (11th, 73rd)

After Missouri: 125.83 (10th, 58th)

After LSU: 115.38 (6th, 29th)

After Georgia: 116.79 (6th, 27th)

After Ole Miss: 119.60 (7th, 30th)

After bye week: 119.60 (7th, 29th)

Why: Jaxson Dart completed 9-of-19 passes for 130 yards, three touchdowns and an interception against Auburn in Week 7.

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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)

2021: 373.8 (9th, 61st)

After Mercer: 271.0 (3rd, 35th)

After San Jose State: 300.0 (6th, 40th)

After Penn State: 359.0 (10th, 56th)

After Missouri: 347.2 (9th, 49th)

After LSU: 331.8 (6th, 35th)

After Georgia: 359.8 (9th, 56th)

After Ole Miss: 391.0 (10th, 81st)

After bye week: 391.0 (10th, 81st)

Why: Auburn gave up 578 yards of offense to Ole Miss in Week 7.

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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)

2021: 21.8 (5th, 27th)

After Mercer: 16.0 (8th, 48th)

After San Jose State: 16.0 (6th, 42nd)

After Penn State: 24.3 (9th, 66th)

After Missouri: 21.8 (9th, 58th)

After LSU: 21.6 (8th, 44th)

After Georgia: 25.0 (10th, 60th)

After Ole Miss: 28.3 (12th, 78th)

After bye week: 28.3 (12th, 83rd)

Why: Auburn allowed 48 points against Ole Miss 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)

2021: 35, 2.69 per game (7th, 40th)

After Mercer: 1 sack, 1.00 per game (7th, 71st)

After San Jose State: 4 sacks, 2.00 per game (3rd, 61st)

After Penn State: 4 sacks, 1.33 per game (9th, 98th)

After Missouri: 8 sacks, 2.00 per game (6th, 71st)

After LSU: 11 sacks, 2.20 per game (7th, 57th)

After Georgia: 12 sacks, 2.00 per game (7th, 69th)

After Ole Miss: 13 sacks, 1.86 per game (8th, 80th)

After bye week: 13 sacks, 1.86 per game (7th, 83rd)

Why: Auburn had one sack against Ole Miss 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)

2021: 35.8 percent (7th, 37th)

After Mercer: 44.4 percent (10th, 92nd)

After San Jose State: 38.7 percent (10th, 87th)

After Penn State: 40.5 percent (11th, 91st)

After Missouri: 38.2 percent (11th, 73rd)

After LSU: 37.1 percent (10th, 65th)

After Georgia: 38.1 percent (10th, 68th)

After Ole Miss: 42.7 percent (11th, 100th)

After bye week: 42.7 percent (11th, 101st)

Why: Ole Miss converted 12-of-19 third-down tries against Auburn in Week 7.

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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)

2021: 81.6 percent (6th, 58th)

After Mercer: 100.0 percent (8th, 78th)

After San Jose State: 87.5 percent (12th, 83rd)

After Penn State: 92.3 percent (14th, 108th)

After Missouri: 82.4 percent (7th, 60th)

After LSU: 84.2 percent (11th, 77th)

After Georgia: 87.5 percent (12th, 96th)

After Ole Miss: 89.3 percent (13th, 112th)

After bye week: 89.3 percent (13th, 111th)

Why: Ole Miss scored on all four of its red-zone opportunities against Auburn, with three touchdowns and a field goal in Week 7.

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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)

2021: 41.79 (3rd, 20th)

After Mercer: 29.00 (11th, 111th)

After San Jose State: 39.75 (8th, 66th)

After Penn State: 40.71 (6th, 52nd)

After Missouri: 43.53 (2nd, 10th)

After LSU: 44.11 (1st, 6th)

After Georgia: 41.68 (2nd, 16th)

After Ole Miss: 42.29 (3rd, 13th)

After bye week: 42.29 (2nd, 11th)

Why: Auburn’s Oscar Chapman averaged 50.7 net yards per punt against Ole Miss 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)

2021: 23.88 (6th, 25th)

After Mercer: 7.67 (12th, 108th)

After San Jose State: 5.20 (14th, 127th)

After Penn State: 11.56 (14th, 124th)

After Missouri: 11.56 (14th, 127th)

After LSU: 13.75 (14th, 121st)

After Georgia: 14.08 (14th, 124th)

After Ole Miss: 14.50 (14th, 124th)

After bye week: 14.50 (14th, 124th)

Why: Auburn had one 20-yard kickoff return against Ole Miss 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)

2021: 17.36 (3rd, 15th)

After Mercer: 13.00 (8th, 35th)

After San Jose State: 13.67 (4th, 20th)

After Penn State: 17.75 (5th, 35th)

After Missouri: 17.40 (5th, 25th)

After LSU: 18.75 (7th, 44th)

After Georgia: 18.25 (6th, 39th)

After Ole Miss: 20.45 (9th, 71st)

After bye week: 20.45 (8th, 71st)

Why: Ole Miss averaged 26.3 yards on three kickoff returns against Auburn in Week 7.

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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)

2021: 8.30 (7th, 60th)

After Mercer: 9.00 (3rd, 35th)

After San Jose State: 11.17 (4th, 33rd)

After Penn State: 10.88 (7th, 42nd)

After Missouri: 9.60 (7th, 44th)

After LSU: 8.92 (7th, 50th)

After Georgia: 8.92 (9th, 52nd)

After Ole Miss: 8.92 (8th, 51st)

After bye week: 8.92 (8th, 50th)

Why: Auburn did not return a punt against Ole Miss 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)

2021: 4.12 (2nd, 23rd)

After Mercer: 0.00 (1st, 12th)

After San Jose State: 0.00 (1st, 13th)

After Penn State: 0.00 (1st, 14th)

After Missouri: minus-0.50 (1st, 5th)

After LSU: minus-0.50 (1st, 5th)

After Georgia: 7.43 (8th, 67th)

After Ole Miss: 7.00 (7th, 60th)

After bye week: 7.00 (8th, 61st)

Why: Ole Miss had one punt return for a loss of 4 yards against Auburn in Week 7.

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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, 0.23 per game (6th, 42nd)

2017: minus-one, minus-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)

2021: plus-one, 0.08 per game (8th, 64th)

After Mercer: minus-two, minus-2.00 per game (13th, 106th)

After San Jose State: minus-four, minus-2.00 per game (14th, 121st)

After Penn State: minus-eight, minus-2.67 per game (14th, 130th)

After Missouri: minus-six, minus-1.50 per game (13th, 126th)

After LSU: minus-nine, minus-1.80 per game (14th, 129th)

After Georgia: minus-nine, minus-1.50 per game (14th, 128th)

After Ole Miss: minus-11, minus-1.57 per game (14th, 130th)

After bye week: minus-11, minus-1.57 per game (14th, 131st)

Why: Auburn forced one turnover and committed three against Ole Miss 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)

2021: 46.38 (6th, 44th)

After Mercer: 20.00 (2nd, 5th)

After San Jose State: 52.50 (7th, 53rd)

After Penn State: 55.33 (7th, 60th)

After Missouri: 48.00 (6th, 40th)

After LSU: 54.40 (7th, 55th)

After Georgia: 55.33 (8th, 58th)

After Ole Miss: 54.14 (8th, 58th)

After bye week: 54.14 (6th, 61st)

Why: Auburn committed five penalties for 46 yards against Ole Miss before the bye.

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.