Auburn Football: Tigers Fall to Clemson, What Does It Mean?

The Clemson Tigers at Memorial Stadium shocked the Auburn Tigers by a score of 38-24. After dramatic victories over Utah State and Mississippi State, Auburn's luck has finally out in Clemson.

What Happened?

Auburn got off to an incredibly fast start as they put up the first two touchdowns of the game, and led Clemson 14-0 at the end of the first quarter. 

From there, Clemson QB Tahj Boyd took over. Boyd threw for four touchdowns and passed for 386 yards in the victory.

Auburn could do nothing to slow Clemson's run game in the fourth quarter as Clemson ran the final six minutes off the clock. For the game Clemson ran for 238 yards as a team on 50 carries.

Who's the Goat?

Many experts would point to a poor performance from Barrett Trotter in this game as the reason the team lost, but that is not the game.

The entire Auburn defense is the goat. They couldn't slow Clemson's running or passing game, and failed to get off the field when it mattered late in the game.

The defensive line was incredibly poor for Auburn as they got zero pressure on Boyd, and couldn't stop the run.

How Far Will They Fall?

The loss immediately takes Auburn outside the top 25 in every poll. They came in ranked No. 21, and that could be seen as a generous ranking after the near disaster against Utah State at home.

Who Benefits the Most?

Auburn was never really seen as a threat to win the SEC this season, so not many teams were overly concerned with this season.

However, this game really helps Clemson. They have a rough three-game stretch that includes Florida State and Virginia Tech in the next two weeks. Clemson did receive a couple points in the USA Today poll last week, so there is a good possibility they slide into the Top 25 for the first time this season.

Conference or National Implications

For those that really thought Auburn was a contender in the SEC this season, those dreams are now dashed.

This game proved they are not one of the top 25 teams in the country, and they are going to struggle greatly when they get into the bulk of the SEC schedule.

Next Game: vs. Florida Atlantic

Can Auburn Rebound in the Polls:

Not a chance.

Auburn could in fact find themselves 3-5 after their first eight games. After facing Florida Atlantic, they have four straight games against top 25 teams, which include South Carolina, Florida, Alabama and LSU.

Auburn could easily lose all four of those games, and may find themselves struggling to get into a bowl game this year.