MORE TAKE TWO: Can Michigan reel in four-star QB Harrison Bailey?
Take Two returns with a daily offering tackling an issue in the college football landscape. Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and a local expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites.
THE STORYLINE
Auburn lost for the second time at home already this season on Saturday as Tennessee snapped its 11-game SEC losing streak in a 30-24 win.
The Tigers' offense looks completely inept and that’s even more puzzling since quarterback Jarrett Stidham entered the season as one of the best in college football and there are weapons on Gus Malzahn’s team.
But in seven games, Stidham has thrown seven touchdowns and four interceptions. Leading receiver Ryan Davis has no touchdowns yet. No receiver has more than two. After scoring nine points in a loss to Mississippi State two weekends ago, Auburn came into Saturday’s game as double-digit favorites and lost.
There has been a lot of criticism of Malzahn, who took Auburn to the national title game in his first season but has not been back since. There has been only one other 10-win season since 2013 and it was last year when the Tigers lost in the Peach Bowl.
Malzahn received an extension after last season which drastically increased his salary and his buyout if fired without cause at the end of the season would be massive.
With a disappointing season unfolding, and Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Georgia and Alabama still on the schedule, is Malzahn on the hot seat yet or are the Tigers stuck with him since his contract is so pricey?
FIRST TAKE: BRYAN MATTHEWS, AUBURNSPORTS.COM
“His seat is pretty hot right now and Auburn could make a move if it gets so bad that the money lost in ticket sales and fundraising is more than the buyout, which is about $15 million up front and $4 million in annual installments.”
SECOND TAKE: MIKE FARRELL, RIVALS.COM
“I’d say it’s a warm seat. They just signed him to an extension last year and the buyout is so big I’m not sure if they’d be willing to eat that. They look horrible. They really are struggling this season and they’ve been one of the bigger disappointments in college football overall. I’m sure the pressure is going to be on for sure. I wouldn’t say it’s a hot seat because I don’t see them buying him out but it’s a warm seat and it’s only going to get warmer as they continue to struggle.”
