After getting throttled in the Iron Bowl by a fine-tuned Alabama offense, Auburn’s defense has hit a dubious mark this season: The Tigers now have the SEC’s worst third-down defense and one of the worst in the SEC.
Auburn has allowed teams this season to convert 53.8 percent of their third-down attempts this season, which is at the bottom of the SEC and 122nd among 127 FBS programs during this unusual season.
Auburn has had issues getting off the field on third downs all year, but the Tigers still took a hit in that category after their 42-13 Iron Bowl loss to the top-ranked Tide. Alabama converted 6-of-10 third-down opportunities against Auburn, including one for a touchdown.
The Tide averaged 8.4 yards per play overall against the Tigers, so it wasn’t often that one of the nation’s best offenses found itself in third-down situations. When Alabama did face third-downs, the average distance to go was 6.5 yards -- and Auburn surrendered 6.1 yards per third-down play on Saturday. Alabama converted all three of its third-and-short (between 1 and 4 yards) chances against Auburn, was 1-of-2 on third-and-9 or longer and was 2-of-5 on third downs with 5-8 yards to go.
Alabama also completed 3-of-6 passes on third downs, averaging 15.3 yards on those three completions and converting on each one. Alabama converted all three of its third downs in which it ran a designed run, while the 10th and final third-down attempt saw backup quarterback Bryce Young get sacked in the fourth quarter.
It resulted in the fifth time in eight games this season that Auburn has allowed an opponent to convert at least 60 percent of its third-down tries, including the second consecutive game Kevin Steele’s defense has allowed a team to reach that threshold.
Here’s a look at those numbers, as well as where Auburn stacks up statistically in the SEC and FBS with two games remaining:
----
RUSHING OFFENSE
2013: 328.3 (1st, 1st)
2014: 255.5 (2nd, 13th)
2015: 196.4 (5th, 35th)
2016: 271.3 (1st, 6th)
2017: 218.3 (4th, 26th)
2018: 167.5 (10th, 68th)
2019: 199.1 (4th, 33rd)
After Kentucky: 91.0 (9th, 63rd)
After Georgia: 65.0 (13th, 72nd)
After Arkansas: 129.7 (7th, 56th)
After South Carolina: 149.5 (7th, 47th)
After Ole Miss: 164.4 (6th, 53rd)
After LSU: 171.3 (6th, 48th)
After bye week: 171.3 (6th, 58th)
After Mississippi State postponement: 171.3 (6th, 58th)
After Tennessee: 170.4 (5th, 56th)
2020: 164.1 (6th, 65th)
Why: Auburn rushed for 120 yards against Alabama but averaged just 2.9 yards per carry.
.
PASSING OFFENSE
2013: 173.0 (11th, 106th)
2014: 229.5 (7th, 66th)
2015: 173.6 (12th, 110th)
2016: 169.5 (14th, 112th)
2017: 233.4 (5th, 65th)
2018: 222.5 (9th, 74th)
2019: 207.5 (9th, 87th)
After Kentucky: 233.0 (11th, 42nd)
After Georgia: 205.0 (12th, 56th)
After Arkansas: 199.0 (12th, 59th)
After South Carolina: 217.3 (10th, 51st)
After Ole Miss: 221.4 (10th 60th)
After LSU: 234.5 (9th, 51st)
After bye week: 234.5 (9th, 63rd)
After Mississippi State postponement: 234.5 (9th, 65th)
After Tennessee: 232.4 (11th, 68th)
2020: 231.8 (9th, 66th)
Why: Bo Nix threw for 227 yards against Alabama.
.
PASS EFFICIENCY OFFENSE
2013: 149.63 (6th, 24th)
2014: 156.79 (1st, 8th)
2015: 124.47 (10th, 79th)
2016: 135.17 (6th, 54th)
2017: 153.59 (5th, 13th)
2018: 140.11 (8th, 51st)
2019: 128.35 (9th, 89th)
After Kentucky: 168.41 (4th, 14th)
After Georgia: 118.42 (12th, 58th)
After Arkansas: 121.20 (11th, 58th)
After South Carolina: 112.23 (13th, 66th)
After Ole Miss: 119.53 (11th, 71st)
After LSU: 130.60 (8th, 62nd)
After bye week: 130.60 (8th, 76th)
After Mississippi State postponement: 130.60 (8th, 69th)
After Tennessee: 131.85 (8th, 69th)
2020: 127.28 (9th, 81st)
Why: Nix completed 23-of-38 passes for 227 yards, no touchdowns and a pair of interceptions against Alabama.
.
TOTAL OFFENSE
2013: 501.3 (2nd, 11th)
2014: 485.0 (2nd, 16th)
2015: 370.0 (10th, 94th)
2016: 440.8 (6th, 43rd)
2017: 451.6 (3rd, 26th)
2018: 389.9 (11th, 78th)
2019: 406.5 (6th, 64th)
After Kentucky: 324.0 (11th, 59th)
After Georgia: 270.0 (13th, 71st)
After Arkansas: 328.7 (13th, 67th)
After South Carolina: 366.8 (10th, 67th)
After Ole Miss: 385.8 (9th, 62nd)
After LSU: 405.8 (6th, 49th)
After bye week: 405.8 (6th 65th)
After Mississippi State postponement: 405.8 (6th, 59th)
After Tennessee: 402.9 (6th, 59th)
2020: 395.9 (8th, 66th)
Why: Auburn had 347 yards of total offense against Alabama.
.
SCORING OFFENSE
2013: 39.5 (2nd, 12th)
2014: 35.5 (4th, 35th)
2015: 27.5 (8th, 75th)
2016: 31.2 (6th, 49th)
2017: 33.9 (4th, 27th)
2018: 30.9 (8th, 47th)
2019: 33.2 (3rd, 28th)
After Kentucky: 29.0 (8th, 42nd)
After Georgia: 17.5 (11th, 65th)
After Arkansas: 21.7 (11th, 62nd)
After South Carolina: 21.8 (12th, 64th)
After Ole Miss: 24.4 (8th, 69th)
After LSU: 28.3 (8th, 59th)
After bye week: 28.3 (7th, 67th)
After Mississippi State postponement: 28.3 (7th, 65th)
After Tennessee: 28.6 (7th, 67th)
2020: 26.6 (7th, 80th)
Why: Auburn scored 13 points against Alabama.
.
SACKS ALLOWED
2013: 18 sacks, 1.29 per game (3rd, 22nd)
2014: 15 sacks, 1.15 per game (3rd, 15th)
2015: 19 sacks, 1.46 per game (4th, 33rd)
2016: 19 sacks, 1.46 per game (3rd, 27th)
2017: 36 sacks, 2.57 per game (10th, 100th)
2018: 23 sacks, 1.77 per game (6th, 39th)
2019: 18, 1.38 per game (4th, 18th)
After Kentucky: 1, 1.00 per game (1st, 10th)
After Georgia: 4, 2.00 per game (4th, 31st)
After Arkansas: 7, 2.33 per game (7th, 43rd)
After South Carolina: 10, 2.50 per game (7th, 47th)
After Ole Miss: 12, 2.40 per game (10th, 59th)
After LSU: 12, 2.00 per game (6th, 38th)
After bye week: 12, 2.00 per game (5th, 47th)
After Mississippi State postponement: 12, 2.00 per game (8th, 54th)
After Tennessee: 14, 2.00 per game (9th, 49th)
2020: 17, 2.12 per game (8th, 60th)
Why: Auburn allowed three sacks against Alabama.
.
THIRD-DOWN CONVERSIONS
2013: 46.5 percent (4th, 24th)
2014: 52.5 percent (1st, 2nd)
2015: 41.3 percent (6th, 49th)
2016: 41.8 percent (4th, 53rd)
2017: 45.5 percent (3rd, 15th)
2018: 36.9 percent (11th, 90th)
2019: 40.5 percent (6th, 60th)
After Kentucky: 40.0 percent (8th, 43rd)
After Georgia: 40.0 percent (10th, 39th)
After Arkansas: 40.0 percent (8th, 47th)
After South Carolina: 41.1 percent (9th, 41st)
After Ole Miss: 47.2 percent (6th, 27th)
After LSU: 49.4 percent (4th, 20th)
After bye week: 49.4 percent (4th, 22nd)
After Mississippi State postponement: 49.4 percent (5th, 20th)
After Tennessee: 51.0 percent (5th, 17th)
2020: 50.4 percent (5th, 16th)
Why: Auburn converted 9-of-19 third-downs against Alabama.
.
RED ZONE OFFENSE
2013: 88.5 percent (2nd, 21st)
2014: 87.9 percent (4th, 31st)
2015: 90.2 percent (2nd, 13th)
2016: 85.5 percent (5th, 52nd)
2017: 88.1 percent (6th, 36th)
2018: 81.1 percent (11th, 88th)
2019: 90.4 percent (3rd, 21st)
After Kentucky: 75.0 percent (9th, 50th)
After Georgia: 80.0 percent (8th, 46th)
After Arkansas: 80.0 percent, (9th, 52nd)
After South Carolina: 80.0 percent (9th, 50th)
After Ole Miss: 84.2 (6th, 52nd)
After LSU: 84.0 percent (7th, 58th)
After bye week: 84.0 percent (7th, 71st)
After Mississippi State postponement: 84.0 percent (8th, 67th)
After Tennessee: 82.8 percent (8th, 66th)
2020: 83.3 percent (8th, 65th)
Why: Auburn scored a touchdown on its lone red-zone trip against Alabama.
.
RUSHING DEFENSE
2013: 162.1 (10th, 62nd)
2014: 168.8 (10th, 67th)
2015: 182.7 (11th, 81st)
2016: 132.8 (3rd, 27th)
2017: 137.0 (5th, 35th)
2018: 135.9 (6th, 32nd)
2019: 123.2 (4th, 25th)
After Kentucky: 145.0 (11th, 47th)
After Georgia: 173.5 (13th, 53rd)
After Arkansas: 155.3 (10th, 41st)
After South Carolina: 154.8 (10th, 41st)
After Ole Miss: 180.4 (12th, 65th)
After LSU: 155.7 (11th, 57th)
After bye week: 155.7 (9th, 59th)
After Mississippi State postponement: 155.7 (9th, 58th)
After Tennessee: 165.1 (10th, 64th)
2020: 162.4 (10th, 66th)
Why: Auburn gave up 143 rushing yards and 5.3 yards per carry against Alabama.
.
PASSING DEFENSE
2013: 258.6 (13th, 100th)
2014: 230.1 (12th, 68th)
2015: 222.5 (11th, 63rd)
2016: 229.2 (9th, 67th)
2017: 182.4 (5th, 18th)
2018: 219.5 (7th, 58th)
2019: 213.8 (8th, 47th)
After Kentucky: 239.0 (5th, 38th)
After Georgia: 239.5 (2nd, 33rd)
After Arkansas: 265.7 (7th, 51st)
After South Carolina: 235.3 (4th, 35th)
After Ole Miss: 220.4 (2nd, 40th)
After LSU: 236.2 (4th, 50th)
After bye week: 236.2 (4th, 61st)
After Mississippi State postponement: 236.2 (3rd, 65th)
After Tennessee: 237.0 (2nd, 64th)
2020: 245.1 (7th, 81st)
Why: Alabama threw for 302 yards against Auburn.
.
PASS EFFICIENCY DEFENSE
2013: 126.88 (9th, 63rd)
2014: 124.19 (10th, 52nd)
2015: 116.99 (8th, 31st)
2016: 116.83 (4th, 22nd)
2017: 113.84 (4th, 19th)
2018: 118.12 (6th, 31st)
2019: 120.71 (9th, 32nd)
After Kentucky: 119.41 (4th, 24th)
After Georgia: 130.05 (5th, 33rd)
After Arkansas: 153.90 (9th, 64th)
After South Carolina: 146.79 (8th, 53rd)
After Ole Miss: 139.17 (6th, 57th)
After LSU: 132.51 (5th, 47th)
After bye week: 132.51 (4th, 56th)
After Mississippi State postponement: 132.51 (4th, 55th)
After Tennessee: 131.03 (2nd, 45th)
2020: 141.15 (8th, 79th)
Why: Mac Jones completed 18-of-26 passes for 302 yards and five touchdowns against Auburn.
.
TOTAL DEFENSE
2013: 420.7 (12th, 86th)
2014: 398.8 (9th, 64th)
2015: 405.2 (13th, 71st)
2016: 361.9 (5th, 28th)
2017: 319.4 (5th, 14th)
2018: 355.4 (8th, 38th)
2019: 337.0 (7th, 28th)
After Kentucky: 384.0 (7th, 34th)
After Georgia: 413.0 (9th, 44th)
After Arkansas: 421.0 (8th, 48th)
After South Carolina: 3900 (7th, 34th)
After Ole Miss: 400.8 (6th, 52nd)
After LSU: 391.8 (6th, 48th)
After bye week: 391.8 (6th, 49th)
After Mississippi State postponement: 391.8 (6th, 51st)
After Tennessee: 402.1 (7th. 61st)
2020: 407.5 (9th, 65th)
Why: Auburn allowed 445 total yards against Alabama.
.
SCORING DEFENSE
2013: 24.7 (9th, 48th)
2014: 26.7 (10th, 62nd)
2015: 26.0 (11th, 54th)
2016: 17.1 (4th, 7th)
2017: 18.5 (3rd, 12th)
2018: 19.2 (4th, 14th)
2019: 19.5 (6th, 17th)
After Kentucky: 13.0 (3rd, 11th)
After Georgia: 20.0 (3rd, 18th)
After Arkansas: 22.7 (2nd, 22nd)
After South Carolina: 24.5 (3rd, 24th)
After Ole Miss: 25.2 (3rd, 38th)
After LSU: 22.8 (4th, 28th)
After bye week: 22.8 (4th, 27th)
After Mississippi State postponement: 22.8 (4th, 32nd)
After Tennessee: 22.0 (3rd, 24th)
2020: 24.5 (4th, 35th)
Why: Auburn surrendered 42 points to Alabama.
.
SACKS
2013: 32 sacks, 2.29 per game (4th, 46th)
2014: 21 sacks, 1.62 per game (11th, 95th)
2015: 19 sacks, 1.46 per game (13th, 104th)
2016: 25 sacks, 1.92 per game (8th, 75th)
2017: 37 sacks, 2.64 per game (5th, 25th)
2018: 38, 2.92 per game (3rd, 16th)
2019: 28 sacks, 2.15 per game (9th, 64th)
After Kentucky: 2 sacks, 2.00 per game (7th, 36th)
After Georgia: 3 sacks, 1.50 per game (9th, 50th)
After Arkansas: 6 sacks, 2.00 per game (7th, 40th)
After South Carolina: 7 sacks, 1.75 per game (10th, 51st)
After Ole Miss: 8 sacks, 1.60 per game (11th, 75th)
After LSU: 12 sacks, 2.00 per game (6th, 54th)
After bye week: 12 sacks, 2.00 per game (7th, 63rd)
After Mississippi State postponement: 12 sacks, 2.00 per game (7th, 64th)
After Tennessee: 16 sacks, 2.29 per game (6th, 59th)
2020: 18 sacks, 2.25 per game (7th, 56th)
Why: Auburn had two sacks against Alabama.
.
THIRD-DOWN DEFENSE
2013: 33.0 percent (1st, 13th)
2014: 36.0 percent (4th, 29th)
2015: 44.9 percent (13th, 109th)
2016: 34.8 percent (4th, 25th)
2017: 32.9 percent (3rd, 20th)
2018: 34.7 percent (6th, 30th)
2019: 29.9 percent (2nd, 8th)
After Kentucky: 63.2 percent (12th, 69th)
After Georgia: 63.6 (14th, 74th)
After Arkansas: 56.3 percent (12th, 71st)
After South Carolina: 55.7 percent (13th, 72nd)
After Ole Miss: 57.1 (12th, 95th)
After LSU: 52.1 percent (13th, 95th)
After bye week: 52.1 percent (13th, 112th)
After Mississippi State postponement: 52.1 percent (13th, 118th)
After Tennessee: 53.2 percent (13th, 118th)
2020: 53.8 percent (14th, 122nd)
Why: Alabama converted 6-of-10 third-down chances against Auburn.
.
RED ZONE DEFENSE
2013: 73.1 percent (2nd, 10th)
2014: 74.1 percent (4th, 13th)
2015: 75.5 percent (5th, 15th)
2016: 74.4 percent (3rd, 11th)
2017: 83.3 percent (6th, 64th)
2018: 82.9 percent (9th, 64th)
2019: 71.8 percent (2nd, 8th)
After Kentucky: 33.3 percent (1st, 1st)
After Georgia: 71.4 percent (3rd, 14th)
After Arkansas: 81.8 (6th, 32nd)
After South Carolina: 86.7 percent (8th, 48th)
After Ole Miss: 81.0 percent (5th, 41st)
After LSU: 81.0 percent, (6th, 42nd)
After bye week: 81.0 percent (7th, 46th)
After Mississippi State postponement: 81.0 percent (7th, 47th)
After Tennessee: 76.0 percent (3rd, 27th)
2020: 74.1 percent (2nd, 18th)
Why: Alabama scored on one of its two red-zone trips.
.
NET PUNTING
2013: 40.54 (2nd, 9th)
2014: 37.44 (12th, 67th)
2015: 37.58 (7th, 54th)
2016: 39.90 (5th, 21st)
2017: 35.61 (14th, 115th)
2018: 41.91 (2nd, 5th)
2019: 38.50 (9th, 63rd)
After Kentucky: 39.80 (8th, 25th)
After Georgia: 39.70 (8th, 30th)
After Arkansas: 38.93 (9th, 38th)
After South Carolina: 39.53 (8th, 36th)
After Ole Miss: 40.29 (7th, 37th)
After LSU: 39.00 (9th, 50th)
After bye week: 39.00 (9th, 61st)
After Mississippi State postponement: 39.00 (9th, 57th)
After Tennessee: 38.82 (9th, 58th)
2020: 38.30 (10th, 71st)
Why: Auburn averaged 35.4 net yards per punt against Alabama.
.
KICK RETURNS
2013: 23.40 (5th, 27th)
2014: 20.03 (11th, 82nd)
2015: 27.94 (2nd, 4th)
2016: 19.04 (12th, 100th)
2017: 23.22 (3rd, 25th)
2018: 21.52 (6th, 48th)
2019: 20.50 (7th, 67th)
After Kentucky: 32.00 (3rd, 6th)
After Georgia: 22.67 (6th, 24th)
After Arkansas: 24.20 (3rd, 21st)
After South Carolina: 24.09 (4th, 18th)
After Ole Miss: 22.93 (5th, 26th)
After LSU: 22.93 (5th, 25th)
After bye week: 22.93 (5th, 31st)
After Mississippi State postponement: 22.93 (4th, 31st)
After Tennessee: 22.93 (3rd, 28th)
2020: 20.60 (5th, 54th)
Why: Auburn 13.6 yards per kickoff return against Alabama.
.
KICK RETURN DEFENSE
2013: 25.79 (14th, 121st)
2014: 21.73 (9th, 84th)
2015: 21.17 (12th, 61st)
2016: 18.00 (1st, 13th)
2017: 27.20 (14th, 129th)
2018: 19.44 (3rd, 39th)
2019: 22.30 (11th, 96th)
After Kentucky: 24.00 (11th, 59th)
After Georgia: 27.50 (11th, 62nd)
After Arkansas: 27.50 (11th, 65th)
After South Carolina: 25.20 (10th, 64th)
After Ole Miss: 23.29 (10th, 77th)
After LSU: 24.80 (10th, 89th)
After bye week: 24.80 (10th, 106th)
After Mississippi State postponement: 24.80 (11th, 106th)
After Tennessee: 24.00 (10th, 103rd)
2020: 23.77 (10th, 105th)
Why: Alabama had one 21-yard kickoff return.
.
PUNT RETURNS
2013: 11.78 (2nd, 22nd)
2014: 17.82 yards per return (1st, 4th)
2015: 11.93 yards per return (7th, 28th)
2016: 10.69 (5th, 24th)
2017: 8.52 (8th, 51st)
2018: 10.75 (6th, 39th)
2019: 12.83 (4th, 18th)
After Kentucky: 0.00 (6th, 52nd)
After Georgia: 0.00 (10th, 58th)
After Arkansas: 8.50 (6th, 31st)
After South Carolina: 8.50 (5th, 33rd)
After Ole Miss: 8.2 (5th, 43rd)
After LSU: 10.00 (4th, 33rd)
After bye week: 10.00 (4th, 35th)
After Mississippi State postponement: 10.00 (4th, 36th)
After Tennessee: 10.00 (5th, 37th)
2020: 10.00 (5th, 36th)
Why: Auburn did not return a punt against Alabama.
.
PUNT RETURN DEFENSE
2013: 7.0 (8th, 51st)
2014: 7.79 (10th, 72nd)
2015: 12.43 (11th, 110th)
2016: 3.17 (1st, 8th)
2017: 11.43 (14th, 108th)
2018: 3.36 (3rd, 9th)
2019: 17.29 (14th, 130th)
After Kentucky: 6.00 (12th, 43rd)
After Georgia: 4.00 (9th, 33rd)
After Arkansas: 4.00 (8th, 28th)
After South Carolina: 3.75 (7th, 23rd)
After Ole Miss: 1.20 (5th, 24th)
After LSU: 1.20 (4th, 19th)
After bye week: 1.20 (4th, 25th)
After Mississippi State postponement: 1.20 (4th, 20th)
After Tennessee: 1.20 (4th, 17th)
2020: 3.43 (5th, 25th)
Why: Alabama averaged 9 yards on a pair of punt returns against Auburn.
.
TURNOVER MARGIN
2013: even, 0.0 per game (9th, 61st)
2014: plus-seven, 0.54 per game (4th, 27th)
2015: plus-two, 0.15 per game (8th, 51st)
2016: plus-three, plus-0.23 per game (6th, 42nd)
2017: minus-one, 0.07 per game (7th, 71st)
2018: plus-nine, 0.69 (3rd, 16th)
2019: plus-six, 0.46 per game (3rd, 27th)
After Kentucky: plus-three, 3.00 per game (1st, 3rd)
After Georgia: plus-two, 1.00 per game (3rd, 13th)
After Arkansas: plus-two, 0.67 per game (3rd, 23rd)
After South Carolina: even, 0.00 per game (7th, 37th)
After Ole Miss: plus-two, 0.40 per game (5th, 35th)
After LSU: plus-four, 0.67 per game (4th, 27th)
After bye week: plus-four, 0.67 per game (4th, 32nd)
After Mississippi State postponement: plus-four, 0.67 per game (4th, 29th)
After Tennessee: plus-four, 0.57 per game (4th, 36th)
2020: plus-three, 0.38 per game (4th, 42nd)
Why: Auburn forced one turnover and committed two against Alabama.
.
PENALTY YARDS PER GAME
2013: 40.64 (7th 30th)
2014: 68.92 (14th, 112th)
2015: 46.38 (7th, 34th)
2016: 36.54 (1st, 6th)
2017: 38.36 (2nd, 13th)
2018: 56.69 (9th, 75th)
2019: 55.23 (10th, 74th)
After Kentucky: 55.00 (13th, 40th)
After Georgia: 50.50 (11th, 36th)
After Arkansas: 51.00 (10th, 29th)
After South Carolina: 60.50 (13th, 46th)
After Ole Miss: 55.40 (13th, 56th)
After LSU: 48.33 (10th, 34th)
After bye week: 48.33 (10th, 43rd)
After Mississippi State postponement: 48.33 (10th, 50th)
After Tennessee: 50.00 (10th, 56th)
2020: 48.50 (9th, 53rd)
Why: Auburn committed five penalties totaling 38 yards against Alabama.
Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.