Auburn moves into Top 15 of the AP & Coaches polls

AUBURN — After surviving a major road test at Ole Miss Saturday night, Auburn made another significant jump in both major polls the following day after its 40-29 victory over the Rebels.

The Tigers (6-2, 4-1 in SEC) survived the onslaught of 465 passing yards from Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly for a 40-29 win and Auburn left its second hostile road environment with its fifth straight victory.

The Tigers (6-2, 4-1 in SEC) relied on a run game led by SEC’s leading rusher Kamryn Pettway and the return of Kerryon Johnson to 307 yards on the ground. After the victory, ESPN college football analyst Danny Kanell called Auburn “the second best team in the Southeastern Conference right now”.

Following a current five-game winning streak, Auburn was ranked No. 11 in the Associated Press poll after compiling wins over Louisiana-Monroe, LSU, Mississippi State, Arkansas and Ole Miss over the last six  weeks of play. The Tigers are in their second straight week of leading the Southeastern Conference in rushing offense at 303.38 yards per game and now lead the league in total offense at 507.6 yards per game.

“We are glad to get out of here with a victory,” Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said Saturday night. “Probably the big thing is how you win. Halftime was a dog fight and the third quarter was a dog fight.”

The SEC had just five schools in the AP poll but they were all in the Top 15 including Alabama (1), Texas A&M (7), Florida (10), Auburn (11) and LSU (15). Alabama, who got all but one of the 61 first place votes, was followed by Michigan, Clemson, Washington and Louisville rounding out of the top five. Ohio State, Texas A&M, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Florida completed the top 10. The SEC and Big 10 Conference had eight of the Top 11 spots in the poll.

After an upset road loss to South Carolina, coached by former Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, Tennessee (5-3, 2-3 in SEC) dropped out of the rankings this week. The only other team besides the Volunteers to receive votes was Arkansas (5-3, 1-3).

Auburn moved up five spots in the Amway Coaches poll this week from No. 17 to No. 12. The Southeastern Conference had five schools in the coaches poll including Alabama (1), Texas A&M (7), Florida (9), Auburn (12) and LSU (14). Early gambling lines have Auburn as a 25.5-point home favorite against Vanderbilt (4-4, 1-3) next weekend for an 11 a.m. kickoff on SEC Network at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Alabama, who got 63 of 64 first place votes, was followed by Michigan, Clemson (who received the only other first place vote), Washington and Louisville to round out of the top five. Ohio State, Texas A&M, Wisconsin, Florida and Nebraska completed the top 10.