Anyone who knows an inkling of Alex McPherson's story had to feel bad for the kicker following last Saturday. In Auburn's 23-17 double-overtime loss to Missouri, McPherson was 0-for-3 on field goal attempts, including one in the first overtime period.
It wasn't normal for the Fort Payne, Ala., native, but then again, nothing has been normal for him since he first started feeling ill in the summer of 2024. After a redshirt freshman season in which he was a perfect 13-for-13 on field goals and 40-for-40 on extra points, McPherson was able to play in just one game.
Heading into this season, he was still battling the illness, but it was thought he would be back to full strength. The setback against Missouri wasn't part of the plan.
On Saturday in Fayetteville, Ark., he more than made up for it. In the 33-24 victory over the Razorbacks, McPherson tied a program record by nailing six field goals, all crucial ones as Auburn's offense continued to stall once it got into Arkansas' red zone.
It was a promise he had made to Hugh Freeze after last week's disappointment.
"He's the first one in my office Monday to say, 'I'm sorry, coach. I lost that game for you,'" Freeze said per Auburn Undercover. "And I said, 'Dude, I believe in you. You're gonna make the next one,' and he ties the school record today with six, so what a redemption story that is, and so, thrilled for him."
McPherson ended all five Auburn possessions in the second half with a kick through the uprights, including a 47-yard kick that was his season high. It was his sixth kick of the day from 37 yards out that clinched the game for the Tigers.
"Last week it was disappointing for me because I always wanna go out there and perform for my guys and you know, give them the edge that we need," McPherson said. "I didn't get that done last week, and so it was disappointing for me. I just let [Hugh Freeze] know that I'm gonna have his back, and he just gave me the opportunity this week. I went out there, and we performed as a unit, and we just got it done this week. So, it was really awesome and I just love that I was able to do that."