With the way head coaches are being let go across college football, every program is walking on eggshells. Auburn has dropped three consecutive games and now faces a must-win home matchup against Missouri on Saturday, raising questions about head coach Hugh Freeze’s future. But as ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum has emphasized, Auburn’s struggles this season extend beyond performance on the field; questionable officiating and controversial calls have repeatedly shifted momentum against the Tigers. So what calls have fueled this controversy?

Paul Finebaum, while talking on the SEC match coverage, said, “The biggest battle Auburn has in every game is the officials…I think they overcome that.” He is right, as Auburn has been a victim of bad refereeing against them in crucial moments. Week 7’s matchup against Georgia brought officiating under the microscope again. Two plays drew particular ire from Tigers fans: a goal-line fumble recovered by Georgia at the end of the first half and a phantom timeout credited to Kirby Smart early in the fourth quarter. Many have called the fumble recovery the decisive moment of the game. They would hope things finally change in the Missouri game.

Speaking on the Auburn Undercover podcast, Finebaum said, “I have never, in all the years I’ve covered college football, seen a program more vulnerable to unimaginable calls than we have seen this year. We all know about the Oklahoma game. The Georgia game was the same. Had that call been played correctly, Auburn would have gone up 17-0 and would have won the game.”

Georgia led Auburn 13-10 early in the fourth quarter on 3rd-and-9 when Kirby Smart clearly signaled for a timeout that the official granted. But to everyone’s dismay, a little later, Smart furiously protested, claiming he never called a timeout but was merely responding to an Auburn defender’s hand clap done to draw a false start. The incident did break momentum and might have aided in Auburn’s loss. The Oklahoma game offered a clear example: Isaiah Sategna’s deceptive sideline substitution led to a touchdown, yet the SEC later acknowledged the play should have been penalized.

Meanwhile, on the same show, Tim Tebow talked about their chances against Missouri. He said, “I think Missouri is the better team, but I also think Auburn at home, Jordan-Hare at night, in desperation, they rally together, and I think they win a close one.” Auburn fans would pray Tim is right as they really need to win the next game to steady their ship, and if they want to keep any playoff hopes alive.

Struggling Tigers Face Tough Road Ahead Against SEC Foes

Auburn kicks off its crucial late-season stretch at home on October 18 against Missouri at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Tigers then travel to Arkansas on October 25, facing the Razorbacks in Fayetteville. Before returning home on November 1 to host Kentucky. These three matchups will test Auburn’s resilience and perseverance, with two conference home games offering a chance to regain momentum. An unforgiving road trip challenges the Tigers’ consistency in hostile environments.

The final stretch starts with a November 8 trip to Vanderbilt in Nashville. Followed by a November 22 home showdown with FCS opponent Mercer at Jordan-Hare. Auburn concludes its regular season on November 29 in the Iron Bowl against Alabama, again at home. Each game demands focused execution and disciplined play, with the season’s outcomes hinging on performance in both the away venues and the familiar confines of Jordan-Hare Stadium.