RJ Younger
FOX Sports activities Nationwide Faculty Soccer Analyst
Hugh Freeze is thought for dialing up fireworks by means of the air. However in Auburn’s season-opener on Friday night time, it was a punishing floor assault that stole the present.
The Tigers steamrolled Baylor 38–24 behind 307 dashing yards and a breakout efficiency from former Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold, who ran for 137 yards and two scores in his Auburn debut. The Tigers exploded for twenty-four factors within the second and third quarters, taking management and by no means letting go.
For Auburn, it was an announcement win. For the Huge 12 — which additionally noticed Colorado fall to Georgia Tech — it was a tough begin to a season the place the league hoped to make an early playoff push.
Listed below are some high takeaways from Friday night time’s motion.
Auburn’s dashing assault shines vivid in season-opening win
In a sport that loomed giant for the way forward for Hugh Freeze at Auburn, his Tigers turned in a efficiency that was decidedly dominant in probably the most non-Hugh Freeze-like means: they ran the ball, they usually ran it properly.
With former Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold behind heart, the Tigers defeated Baylor 38-24 whereas dashing for 307 yards at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas. Arnold led all rushers with 137 yards — at 8.6 yards per carry — and two touchdowns. In whole, the Tigers roughed up the Bears with 416 whole yards and 24 factors within the second and third quarters alone.
Baylor QB Sawyer Robertson performed properly sufficient to win, finishing 27 of 48 passes for 419 yards. Two of the three TDs he threw got here on fourth-down performs, which bodes properly for the Bears’ future if Dave Aranda can determine learn how to put a lid again on the Bears’ finish zone. And he’ll want to take action towards two ranked opponents within the first month of the season, together with No. 16 Southern Methodist and No. 11 Arizona State.
Auburn Tigers vs. Baylor Bears Highlights
Tarleton State will get the W and the bag
The Texans snapped Military’s 17-game profitable streak with a 30-27 double-overtime win in West Level, New York. The loss was Military’s first to an FCS workforce in a decade (Fordham, 2015).
The win for Tarleton State was extra spectacular contemplating the Texans trailed the Black Knights 24-10 with 8:14 left within the third quarter. Military had beforehand received 60 of its final 62 video games when main at the very least 14 factors.
The Black Knights have been coming off a program-best 12-win season and can face No. 17 Kansas State subsequent weekend, whereas Tarleton State takes the $250,000 Military paid them to play the sport and the win.
Haynes King’s dual-threat efficiency fuels Yellow Jackets
Regardless of three turnovers within the first eight minutes of the sport, Haynes King rushed for 156 yards and three TDs in a big-boy win for the Yellow Jackets on the street in Boulder, Colorado. He completed as each the main rusher and passer within the sport, finishing 13 of 20 passes for 143 yards within the victory.
King’s efficiency was indicative of the form of workforce Brent Key has inbuilt Yr 3 on the helm. His groups run the ball and run it properly.
In his postgame press convention, Colorado coach Deion Sanders admitted that Georgia Tech didn’t do or present something new. The Yellow Jackets have been merely extra bodily than the Buffaloes. Georgia Tech ran for 320 yards and averaged a gaudy 6.8 yards per rush doing it.
Huge 12 struggles out of the gate
The Huge 12 misplaced two high-profile non-conference matchups on Friday towards the ACC (Georgia Tech) and the SEC (Auburn). It’s a troublesome search for a Energy 4 convention that want to assist create a playoff that ensures a couple of of its 16 groups will get into the event sooner or later.
Whereas the probabilities of Georgia Tech and Auburn profitable their respective convention titles aren’t nice, the thought was that these Week 1 alternatives would’ve been a technique for the Huge 12 to bolster its playoff argument. Tonight, the league is farther from its aim.
RJ Younger is a nationwide faculty soccer author and analyst for FOX Sports activities. Comply with him at @RJ_Young.
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