Hailey
Auburn’s 23 – 17 double-overtime loss to No. 16 Missouri on Saturday, Oct. 18, has real consequences in the national pecking order.
In this week’s USA TODAY Sports NCAA Re-Rank 1-136 (published Oct. 20), Auburn now sits at No. 66, a dip that reflects both the defeat and the broader trend of October struggles.
Missouri improved to 6 – 1 (2 – 1 SEC) with the win, while Auburn fell to 3 – 4 (0 – 4 SEC), its fourth straight loss.
What changed this week
- New slot: No. 66 in the USA TODAY Sports re-rank (down from the low-60s last week).
- Why it moved: The Tigers missed key chances late (including a missed field goal in OT) and couldn’t capitalize on takeaways, while Missouri’s defense made the final stand.
- Record context: Auburn is 3–4 overall, 0–4 in the SEC, with all four conference games ending in defeats during a rugged October slate.
Game snapshot that drove the drop
- Final: Missouri 23, Auburn 17 (2 OT)
- Swing moments: Missouri QB Beau Pribula’s 3-yard TD run in second OT; Auburn’s first-possession OT field-goal miss; Missouri’s final fourth-down stop to end it.
- Efficiency story: Auburn’s defense generated late chances, including a regulation interception, but special-teams misses proved costly.
Where Auburn stands vs. peers
The re-rank places Auburn in the bottom half of the FBS, reflecting results, résumé and trajectory. Meanwhile, Missouri’s gritty road win keeps the Tigers in the teens nationally and squarely in the SEC mix.
What’s next
Auburn’s path to bowl eligibility tightens. A crucial matchup with Arkansas looms; external pressure is mounting on the program to halt the skid after four straight defeats.
Quick facts
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| New USA TODAY re-rank | No. 66 |
| Last week’s ballpark | Low-60s |
| Result that moved needle | Lost 23-17 (2 OT) vs No. 16 Missouri |
| Auburn record (Ovr/SEC) | 3–4 / 0–4 |
| Missouri record after win | 6–1 / 2–1 |
| Key swing plays | Auburn missed FG in OT; 3-yd TD run by Missouri; final 4th-down stop by Missouri |
| Urgency meter | Must beat Arkansas to stabilize bowl path |
Game and team records as of Oct. 20, 2025.
Why this ranking makes sense
- Results matter: A home loss in a coin-flip game—decided by execution in overtime—hurts more in human-driven composite metrics like the re-rank.
- Trend line: Four straight setbacks, including to Georgia the week before, signal form issues that voters and rankers weigh heavily.
Auburn’s No. 66 re-rank spot mirrors a season at a crossroads: close games, costly miscues, and a brutal October run through the SEC.
The Missouri loss stings because the chances were there—yet execution in overtime made the difference.
To climb back up the national ladder and rescue bowl hopes, Auburn must convert those moments into points, starting with a rebound performance against Arkansas.