Malzahn, Auburn need re-evaluation after latest losses

How quickly have things turned for the worse for Auburn.

In a month’s time, the Tigers went from being a win away from becoming the first two-loss team to make the playoffs to losing consecutive games and four underclassmen to the NFL draft.

Wow.

Auburn lost the rematch to Georgia in the SEC title game and were stunned by unbeaten non-Power 5 Central Florida in the Peach Bowl.

Since the bowl loss, Kerryon Johnson, Carlton Davis, Kamryn Pettway and Jeff Holland have opted to forego their senior year for the draft.

There have been some victories in there.

Auburn had a top-10 recruiting class after the early signing period. Defensive tackle Dontavius Russell decided to return for his senior season and Auburn holds the distinction of having beaten Monday night’s national championship game participants —  Georgia and Alabama.

Can’t hate on Auburn becoming the first team to beat two No. 1 teams in the playoff poll. The Tigers rose all the way up to second in poll and won 10 games for the first time since winning 12 in Gus Malzahn’s first year.

However, they dropped their last two.

Auburn scored just seven points with a “75 percent” Johnson in the SEC title game. A month later, Johnson was healthier, Auburn had 421 yards of total offense, but quarterback Jarrett Stidham turned the ball over three times with one resulting in a Pick 6 in the 34-27 loss to UCF.

The Tigers wound up with four losses, just one fewer than they had last season when Malzahn was on the hot seat. I thought Malzahn's reported seven-year, $49-million contract extension was a bit premature last month.

I understand Malzahn’s being rewarded for making history, but his offense did give up 11 sacks in a loss at Clemson, and Auburn blew a 20-point lead in a loss at LSU.

Maybe there was a legit fear he’d leave to return home to Arkansas, but I’d like to see if he could finish the season with a win before padding his pockets even more.

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If Malzahn wanted to leave a team that nearly made the playoffs for one that’s light years away from it and challenging for an SEC title, so be it, but Auburn’s athletic department is in transition.

Jay Jacobs is on his way out as athletic director, Auburn hasn’t hired one to replace him and the university is still dealing with the men’s basketball program’s off-court issues.

So Malzahn’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, had Auburn in a position where it had to have felt pressured to give Malzahn an extension.

Then Malzahn didn’t have his team fully ready and was outcoached by UCF's Scott Frost.

If that wasn’t enough, Malzahn lost the SEC Offensive Player of the Year (Johnson), his best pass rusher (Holland), best corner (Davis) and a 1,000-yard rusher from two seasons ago (Pettway) to the draft.

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Talk about some huge shoes to fill, and that’s not counting the loss of senior starters Tray Matthews, Braden Smith, Austin Golson, Stephen Roberts, Tre' Williams, Casey Dunn and Darius James.

Then if Stidham decides to leave early, too?

Wow.

Maintaining a top-10 recruiting class after next month’s signing day will soothe the gashes at little bit. I think Stidham will stay, but Auburn would’ve been a preseason top 5 had it beaten UCF in convincing fashion.  

Now the Tigers will watch Monday’s title game thinking they beat Georgia and Alabama, but missed out on the playoffs, lost their bowl game to a non-Power 5 and wonder how will they get back in a position to make the playoffs with Johnson, Holland, Davis and Pettway playing on Sundays.