3 questions for Auburn football ahead of showdown with Kentucky

One week removed from last weekend’s collapse at Missouri, Auburn football looks to pick up its first conference win on the road against Kentucky.

Auburn leads the all-time series against Kentucky 27-6-1 and is 13-4 in all games played in Lexington Ky. The Tigers were victorious in their last nine trips to Kentucky. In the last meeting (2015), Auburn escaped with a 30-27 victory.

Kentucky coach Mark Stoops already considers this a high-level matchup.. For Auburn, breaking a four-game losing streak will improve its chances of winning a bowl.

Here are three questions for the Tigers as they head to Kentucky to face the Wildcats:

Who is Auburn’s kicker?

With Towns McGough, Auburn’s true freshman kicker, currently 5-for-10 from the field this season, Alex McPherson could possibly see a return to the lineup.

McPherson has yet to play this season as he recovers from a gastrointestinal illness.. Auburn coach Hugh Freeze said kicks within the 35-yard range can trigger McPherson’s return.

McGough has two misses from 30 yards or less in conference games against Missouri and Oklahoma this season. McPherson was a perfect 13 of 13 from the field last season.

What’s stopping Auburn from finishing games?

In Auburn’s five losses this season, they have a combined 12 turnovers. They’ve blown double-digit fourth-quarter leads in the SEC twice this year, most recently at Missouri.

Since the Tigers’ wins only came against one FCS team (Alabama A&M) and the Mountain West (New Mexico), fans are wondering why Auburn can’t finish against Power 4 opponents.

Hugh Freeze is also looking for that answer.

“We played two Top 20 teams in the last three weeks, at least they were ranked that way at the time, and we had the lead in the fourth quarter and we couldn’t finish,” Hugh Freeze said. “Without a doubt, it is incredibly disappointing and frustrating.

“I’ve never had a season in my 32 years of coaching where no game has ended in our favor, and we’re just not making enough plays in critical moments for that to happen, and it’s really hard to put your finger on it.”

Is the season over if Auburn loses?

Yeah.

The Tigers could only wish they were in the conversation for a bowl bid after losing four straight league games.

A conference loss to the Wildcats would be the beginning of the end, as Vanderbilt, Texas A&M and Alabama would remain on the schedule.

Auburn travels to Kentucky to face the Wildcats at 6:45 pm on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network.