Against Ole Miss, Auburn started with turnovers on two of their first 4 possessions and trailed 21-0 lower than a minute into the second quarter. They made the last rating (48-34) considerably extra respectable, however the group, like Harsin’s tenure, obtained off to a horrible begin.
Harsin’s general file is September 11 and 4-8 in SEC at Auburn.
Per Pro Football Focus, Auburn (3-4, 1-3 in SEC) ranks as the worst group in the SEC West and one in all three SEC groups exterior of their prime 50. Auburn is now in a category with Vanderbilt and Missouri.
Two of the Tigers’ losses (Penn State, LSU) got here at dwelling in opposition to groups which have been outmanned in opposition to top-10 opponents the previous two weeks. They’ve been outscored by annual rival Georgia 76-20 throughout Harsin’s first two seasons. ESPN’s Football Power Index predicts they will end with a 5-7 file.
Positions at Georgie Tech, Nebraska, Arizona State and Wisconsin have already opened. For a program that looks like it’s steps behind at each flip lately, it is important they get a step forward. Former Baylor head coach Matt Rhule is anticipated to draw vital curiosity all through the sport after being fired from the NFL’s Carolina Panthers earlier this week.
Auburn is already taking part in catch-up in the SEC. Playing catch-up with colleges in the ACC, Big 10 and Pac-12 in the head-coaching search could possibly be disastrous.
Harsin signed a six-year contract value $5.25 million yearly following the 2020 season. Per ESPN, the college would “owe the coach 70 [percent] of his remaining salary” ought to he be purchased out. That would equal $14,700,000 for the 2023-26 seasons, in addition to no matter can be due to him for the the rest of 2022. The similar report mentions the group already has an analogous association with former coach Gus Malzahn.
Buying out two head coaches in two years can be a pricey indictment of the athletic division and an indication of how far the Tigers have fallen. Even worse can be falling additional behind.
Auburn’s incoming recruiting class in 2023 ranks twelfth out of 14 SEC colleges, forward of friends Missouri and Vanderbilt, per Rivals.
Per Yahoo Sports, ESPN’s Pete Thamel informed SEC Network’s “SEC Nation” that till the group lands on a brand new athletic director, motion at the head-coaching place is not doubtless. “There is less urgency…to make a move on Harsin than there maybe was a few weeks ago,” Thamel stated.
“There’s some optics that they’re concerned about at Auburn, and they don’t want to look like Auburn being Auburn.”
The most Auburn factor of all is ready till it is too late.
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