How much did Auburn pay New Mexico State? Tigers sign big check, lose as huge favorites
SEC teams have a practice of scheduling cupcake opponents late in the season. Where most conferences get their non-conference foes out of the way early, SEC teams often saves a game for the final stretch
Looking at Auburn’s schedule, it sure appeared they were ready to feast on a cupcake in the penultimate week of the regular season. Sure, New Mexico State was a solid 8-3 and was riding a solid six-game winning streak. But the Tigers, hosting the matchup, were 25-point favorites, according to Caesars, signaling they should have won comfortably and the Aggies were supposed to leave with a check and a beating.
The Aggies left with a check. That was going to happen regardless. And they left with a beating … of Auburn. New Mexico State throttled Auburn 31-10, outgaining the Tigers 414-213 in total yards and holding possession for 38:50 of the game.
For New Mexico State coach Jerry Kill, this marked the second time in as many years he has taken down Hugh Freeze, having beaten the former Liberty coach last year 49-14.
The Tigers handed out one of the largest checks in the SEC this season. According to the Montgomery Advertiser, Auburn paid New Mexico State $1.85 million for the Aggies to come in and pick up a win.
The Montgomery Advertiser reported Auburn also paid UMass $1.95 million, and Georgia paid $1.9 million to UAB. Auburn won the previous match 59-14. The Bulldogs beat the Blazers 49-21. Auburn also paid Samford $475,000 for a game earlier this season, and won that game as well, 45-13.
The Tigers have largely reaped the benefits of Freeze arriving to Auburn. They clinched a bowl game with a win last week against Arkansas, and are now sitting at 6-5, with a chance for their first seven-win season since winning nine in 2019.
Still, there’s no doubt Saturday’s loss will be an ugly mark on the review of Freeze’s first season in Auburn.
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Before this week, Auburn football hadn’t lost to a non-power conference team since 1991. On Saturday, that streak was broken in baffling fashion.
Despite all the momentum on the plains, a week out from hosting the Iron Bowl and riding a three-game win streak capped by a dominant blowout of Arkansas a week ago, the Tigers were absolutely flat against New Mexico State on Saturday.
The Aggies pounced, not only winning the game but doing so in an absolutely dominant fashion.
The box score is staggering. Auburn lost the time-of-possession battle 38:50 to 21:10, and New Mexico State picked up 11 more first downs. The Tigers were held to just 2-10 on third down. Pick a statistical category, and the story remains the same. Auburn was lethargic, and New Mexico State took advantage of it.
Even a pretty significant tussle midway through the first quarter did little to wake up the Tigers.
Before this week, Auburn football hadn’t lost to a non-power conference team since 1991. On Saturday, that streak was broken in baffling fashion.
Despite all the momentum on the plains, a week out from hosting the Iron Bowl and riding a three-game win streak capped by a dominant blowout of Arkansas a week ago, the Tigers were absolutely flat against New Mexico State on Saturday.
The Aggies pounced, not only winning the game but doing so in an absolutely dominant fashion.
The box score is staggering. Auburn lost the time-of-possession battle 38:50 to 21:10, and New Mexico State picked up 11 more first downs. The Tigers were held to just 2-10 on third down. Pick a statistical category, and the story remains the same. Auburn was lethargic, and New Mexico State took advantage of it.
Even a pretty significant tussle midway through the first quarter did little to wake up the Tigers.
When it’s all said and done, such a complete failure falls on the shoulders of one man: the head coach.
It was abundantly clear that Hugh Freeze did not have the Tigers focused on the team in front of them. The success of recent weeks, and the impending showdown with Alabama, was the cloud hanging over the program this week.
Now, in an instant, embarrassment has overshadowed success, excitement, and potential.
This is the lowest moment in a very long time for Auburn. Even with his status as perhaps the worst coach in the modern era of Auburn football, Bryan Harsin never lost to a team from a non-power conference.
All is not lost on the plains, however. Freeze is still recruiting well, and the positive signs of the last month still indicate improvement in the program. Heading into 2024, there must be an upgrade at quarterback and along the offensive line, both very reasonably manageable tasks with the transfer portal.
Other great coaches have suffered defeats like this. Nick Saban lost to Lousiana-Monroe in his first season in Tuscaloosa. The world is not ending for Auburn.
The world is laughing, though. There will be plenty of memes and jokes to endure. Thanksgiving for Auburn folks in divided houses will be brutal.
Even with the potential, hope, and excitement that has surrounded Auburn in recent weeks, there’s no sugarcoating Saturday’s defeat.
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