Auburn Tigers College Football Playoff chances (Week 14): Is Hugh Freeze's team eligible for postseason after Texas A&M win?
The Auburn Tigers entered Week 13 with an opportunity to play spoiler in the SEC, while also needing to win out to qualify for a bowl berth. They appeared to be in a difficult position, as their remaining schedule featured the then-No. 15-ranked Texas A&M Aggies and -No. 7-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, who were a combined 16-4, and 9-3 in SEC play, entering the week.
While the Tigers have had a largely disappointing season, they picked up their biggest win of the season against a ranked opponent for the first time in four tries. They beat the Aggies 43-41 in quadruple overtime to improve to 5-6, and 2-5 in SEC play. It was one of several big upsets on the weekend that saw multiple teams in the College Football Playoff picture fall to unranked opponents.
Take a closer look at whether Hugh Freeze's Auburn could reach the College Football Playoff below:
Can the Auburn Tigers make the College Football Playoff after Texas A&M win?
The Auburn Tigers don't have a path to reach the College Football Playoff after suffering five losses in the season. They staved off elimination from bowl game contention, improving to 5-6 with their Week 13 victory.
FBS teams must finish with at least six wins and a winning percentage of at least .500 to earn bowl eligibility, with only one win against an FCS opponent counting towards those numbers.
Auburn began its season with a victory over the FCS level Alabama A&M Bulldogs before a shock home loss to the California Golden Bears. It bounced back by beating the New Mexico Lobos before beginning conference play.
The good times were short-lived, as the Tigers suffered four consecutive losses - to the Arkansas Razorbacks, Oklahoma Sooners, Georgia Bulldogs and the Missouri Tigers - to begin their SEC slate. While they beat the Kentucky Wildcats in Week 9, Auburn fell to the Vanderbilt Commodores the next week.
They returned from their Week 11 bye to blow out the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks. The Tigers followed that up with their upset victory against the Texas A&M Aggies and will finish their regular season with a visit to Tuscaloosa to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Iron Bowl.
The Auburn Tigers will look to spoil their intrastate rivals' opportunity to reach the College Football Playoff while picking up their sixth win to qualify for a bowl game.