Photo by: Texas A&M Athletics
After Math: Auburn
Nov 09, 2015 | Football
Each Monday, 12th Man Productions' Will Johnson takes you inside the numbers of the previous game with "After Math".
High hopes Saturday night at Kyle Field faded into the mist.
The Aggies had gotten back into the win column the week before, and felt like a strong finish was possible.
A dreary sprinkle hung around all evening, but that was nothing compared to the damper the Auburn Tigers put on A&M's plans.
Wanting the solid close to the campaign, the Ags may have been done in on this night by their slow start.
Defensively, A&M has been terrific at making adjustments—and were again on Saturday. After allowing two touchdowns on the Tigers first two drives, the defense dug in and did not allow another one the rest of the way. Fourteen points scored by Auburn on their first two possessions, just 12 on their final eight drives.
But, the fast start just wasn't there.
"We talked about that all week, starting fast," said head coach Kevin Sumlin, mentioning it's about all three phases doing so. "The second quarter we came out and, defensively, did what we needed to do."
Give this defense credit. They do fight. Saturday wasn't their best effort but they kept Auburn out of the end zone over the final 43 minutes. They're looking for a complete 60, however.
Offensively, the Aggies did move the football. But they didn't find the end zone either.
Four times A&M scored no points on a drive that went inside the Auburn 40-yard line.
While the defense didn't start well, the offense had trouble finishing.
"We punted twice the whole night," said Sumlin. "Twice, in the end zone, we gave them the ball--which is worse. You can't turn the ball over, particularly when you're going in to score, and expect to win a football game."
In A&M's three losses combined in 2015, they've been beaten in the points-off-turnover category, 40-3.
What's it all add up to?
The turnovers are the difference.
The Aggies remain competitive against the best conference in college football. They just need to play cleaner.
Kevin Sumlin is 22-4 at A&M when winning or tying the turnover margin, 12-10 when losing it.
That adds up to his 34-14 record. And, it takes a heck of a team to beat him.
The 14 teams that have defeated a Sumlin-led Aggie squad combine for a record of 139-37.
In his first three seasons, all but one of the team's that beat him had 9 or more wins (LSU finished 8-5 last year).
This year's losses come to teams who are 20-8, with plenty of football still to play.
A&M is competing well against high-level competition in the SEC. Cleaning things up a tad could lead to more wins.
The Aggies aren't far off.
The outlook Saturday night was bleak, cold and wet. But, the future isn't as damp as one might think.
A little clean up, and it turns brighter by the day.
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