Auburn football: The last decade of Tigers versus Rebels

It’s Ole Miss hate week for Auburn football, and the Tigers are gearing up to face their third Top-10 opponent of the 2021 season in the Rebels. First-year head coach Bryan Harsin’s team currently controls their destiny in the SEC–to dominate the rest of the season and make their way to Atlanta or fall flat and leave Bama to take their second trip in a row.

History is on Auburn football’s side, this week, as the Tigers have spent the last decade beating up on the Ole Miss Rebels. Since 2011, Auburn has lost only two games to the Rebels, one at home in 2015 and one away in 2012.

Since 2015, it’s been nothing but L’s for the Rebels in their attempts to beat the orange and blue, the closest margin coming in 2019 when Ole Miss lost 20-14. This season could change things, however, as superstar quarterback Matt Corral has had quite the year for Lane Kiffin.

Auburn’s defense will have to step up big time this weekend, and hopefully, junior linebacker and team captain Owen Pappoe will be back on the field for the Tigers. Corral will lead the Rebels into Week 10 averaging 263.3 yards rushing and 277.9 yards passing per game, and is a double-headed monster when it comes to both passing and rushing.

In the 2020 Auburn-Ole Miss matchup, Corral completed 16 of 27 pass attempts for 154 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, while the Tiger defense managed one sack. Keeping Corral from making explosive plays will be key in securing Auburn football’s sixth straight win over the Rebels.

Lane Kiffin has never coached Ole Miss to victory over Auburn, and another Tiger victory would mean moving past the Rebels to second place in the SEC West. Though Auburn football still has to beat ranked Texas A&M and Alabama following the Rebs, a Top-10 win is the first stepping stone to a path to the SEC Championship and a shot at redemption versus the Georgia Bulldogs.