Report: Auburn coaching change could happen during bye week if things go south

Fresh off its first loss of the season, Auburn is already dealing with talk of a coaching change. The Tigers wouldn’t be the first Power 5 program to make a move early in the season after Nebraska fired Scott Frost last week following a 1-2 start to his fifth season at the helm.

Auburn Live’s Justin Hokanson reported after a 41-12 loss to No. 22 Penn State on Saturday that he had been told this week that “if things went south a coaching change could happen at the bye week.”

Auburn’s bye week comes on Oct. 22, following back-to-back road games at No. 1 Georgia and No. 20 Ole Miss.

Harsin endured a tumultuous offseason with the Tigers, one that left him on the hot seat for the program despite having coached only one season entering 2022. The Tigers finished just 6-7 in his first season at the helm.

Saturday’s blowout loss at the hands of the Nittany Lions did little to assuage concerns.

Quarterback play continues to kill Auburn Tigers

The Tigers trailed from the end of the first quarter until the final whistle against the Nittany Lions, once again plagued by inconsistent quarterback play from a team that looked out of sorts for most of the afternoon.

Starting quarterback T.J. Finley put the ball on the ground via fumble multiple times, while also throwing an interception. He battled an injured right shoulder in the game and made way for Robby Ashford in the second half after going just 11-of-19 passing for 152 yards.

Ashford didn’t fare much better, finishing 10-of-19 for 144 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

The Tigers, meanwhile, have had absolutely no luck taking the ball off opponents.

In three games so far this season Auburn has not recorded a single takeaway. Meanwhile, the Tigers have now turned it over eight times.