Why Texas A&M fans are cheering for Auburn football in 2021, though not this week

When it comes to the SEC, no other school wants to see the ‘team up north’ dominate the way they have. The barking fans to the East are also not exactly America’s team. But dare I say that Auburn football is a team that many non-Auburn fans don’t have a problem cheering for, given the patriotic displays at home games and general welcoming vibe on the Plains to all comers.

Well, besides this weekend, the Auburn family is receiving strict support from their SEC West counterparts in the Lone Star, Texas A&M for the rest of the season…besides the Mississippi State game since the Bulldogs loss would look better if MSU can upset AU at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

The Aggies are the lone school to defeat Alabama this season and is also one of the two-loss teams in the division with legitimate hopes of making the SEC Championship game opposite Georgia.

If they can beat the Tigers this season, Texas A&M fans will need the Tigers to beat the Tide in the 2021 Iron Bowl to punch their ticket to Atlanta, as Gig ‘Em Gazette’s Jack Williams points out:

"What this weekend gave us was an Auburn-Ole Miss matchup that leveled the playing field, giving a third SEC team in the Aggies’ division two losses on the year. Texas A&M will have the opportunity to play both of these teams.If A&M manages to win in both of these games, they could potentially be tied with Alabama atop the division (if the Tide lose). If Alabama picks up a second loss, this would have the two teams tied in terms of positioning. The tiebreaker would go to A&M, who has the advantage with a win in the head-to-head matchup.The Iron Bowl might be A&M’s best chance at making it to the SEC Championship Game. Let’s hope Auburn has a little bit of magic left in their hat."

With each vital SEC West win, the Auburn football schedule continues to up the ante each week for what could be the ‘biggest game of the 2021 slate’, of course outside of the natural implications surrounding the Iron Bowl.

The Tigers are now the #12 team in the country, their highest rank of the season, as they travel to Kyle Field–where they have never lost–to take on the #13 team.

Should they lose on the road, the Auburn bandwagon will grow for the Iron Bowl. Of course, should they win, the A&M faithful probably will hold some resentment towards the Tigers for spoiling their College Football Playoff chances.