Aggies look to avoid a six-game losing skid on the road against Auburn

A half-century ago, Texas A&M suffered through a six-game losing streak. That 1972 football season is the last time the Aggies endured six consecutive defeats.

The 2022 Aggies (3-6, 1-5) hope to avoid repeating that pattern of futility on Saturday in a 6:30 p.m. Southeastern Conference clash with Auburn (3-6, 1-5) at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

The Aggies desperately need a win to keep their fading postseason hopes alive. Though circumstances may disagree, A&M coach Jimbo Fisher maintains a victory against Auburn wouldn’t be more crucial than any other win.

“You always need a win,” Fisher said. “You need a win every week. I don’t know if it’s any worse than any time else. To me, I need a win every time I play. That’s just me. That’s the way you’ve got to look at it.

“You can’t say I need this win more than the other because you have to play the moment, play the game, get the results you want based off how you perform each and every week.”

Unfortunately, based on how they’ve performed each and every week, the Aggies have not gotten the results they wanted.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

In Conner Weigman’s first start, he passed for 338 yards, the most a QB has passed for against an SEC foe under Fisher.

Yet, there are realistic expectations for a victory.

Auburn is also mired in a five-game losing streak. Further, Auburn’s run defense is among the nation’s worst, so there is potential for A&M running back Devon Achane to have a productive outing.

Most of all, though, there is the return to the starting lineup of freshman quarterback Conner Weigman.

Two weeks ago, the former five-star recruit breathed life into A&M’s stagnant offense. He passed for 338 yards and four touchdowns in a 31-28 loss to Ole Miss.

However, last week, he came down with the flu and was unable to play in a 41-24 loss to Florida.

Weigman will be back to direct the Aggies against an Auburn defense that has allowed more points — 278 — than any SEC team except lowly Vanderbilt.

But A&M has defensive decencies, too.

The Aggies are ranked 123rd in the nation in run defense. Their last two opponents have combined for 681 rushing yards. Running quarterbacks have consistently posed major problems.

Meanwhile, Auburn’s Tank Bigsby is one of the SEC’s most talented running backs, and quarterback Robby Ashford is a threat who’s rushed for 504 yards and five touchdowns.

They’re running behind a flimsy offensive line which last week lost starting right tackle Austin Troxell to a knee injury.

Fisher is hopeful the Aggies have gained enough experience to at least slow down the Tigers, who played well last week for interim coach Cadillac Williams. Auburn fell to Mississippi State 39-33 in overtime.

“Hopefully, the experience we’ve gained from the different looks and multiplicity of looks, our players will have the vision to see what they need to see and how they need to see it,” Fisher said.

If not, the Aggies may see their longest losing streak in 50 years.