Real time analysis: Final - Penn State 28 Auburn 20

Welcome into Real-time Analysis, our live play-by-play blog that runs throughout every Auburn football game. Tonight, we will be breaking down everything that transpires during Auburn’s top 25 matchup at Penn State.

This will be a stream of consciousness on things happening in the game as we analyze the hows and the whys of the Tigers game against Penn State on Saturday night.

Make sure you have this page open and are refreshing throughout the game to get our thoughts on the Tigers are performing in real time.

Pate’s Perspective: For Auburn, nothing sweeter than winning on the road

Five questions: The Penn State game

Pregame notes

Auburn Live’s own Justin Hokanson reported on Friday afternoon that Shaun Shivers and Jaylin Simpson didn’t travel and won’t play in the Penn State game.

Shivers didn’t practice all week due to health and safety protocols, and Simpson remains banged up with a groin injury.

Ja’Varrius Johnson, Tar’Varish Dawson and Ro Torrence all traveled. Johnson didn’t dress last week due to a minor ankle injury, but as I said last week, he could have played if needed. Dawson and Torrence were dressed, but didn’t participate. They’ll be available on Saturday.

1st quarter

The usual suspects starting this one on defense.

How bout that pursuit on the cute play to start it off.

Only rushed three, but with all of that time, someone has to get off of a block.

Roger is going to be a tough matchup.. He keeps his guy to the sideline so well. He takes away space for outside receivers.

How bout a 4th down stop?

Brahms got to the second level one that one. He needs to keep doing that.

Luketa was a guy I highlighted in the preview.. He’s tough

Hunter has joined the party as a blocker on the designed QB run.

Nix had to let it go. Looked like a twist up front with Ebiketie. He’s got to be careful though.. Sometimes taking the sack is ok.

I don’t care for the screen on 3rd and long. Granted, I have PTSD from it. However, the deep shot before that was a good thought.. If there wasn’t pressure, it could’ve been big.

A rare miss by Carlson on the kick-off. Derick Hall cleaned it up for him.

Smoke Monday, Good to see ya.

Pappoe on the edge this time.. He backs off but kept his eyes on the QB and cleans it up nicely.

Tennison with a bonehead play.. Not needed. That might be why Kaufman beat him out as the starter. I love the intensity BUT it has to be controlled.

Shenker in the backfield.. Heres the first look at the power read play.. Also known as the Steelers play..

There was another first with the toss crack play

Great protection and a great strike from Nix. Love that play call. The screens are setting something up.. Get ready for it. Probably one more of those and then a deep shot off of it coming. Its all about timing.

Too much air on that one, but the route was getting away from him. That was a straight go. Nix has to protect the football tonight.

Mike Bobo is firing his arsenal at the Penn State defense right now… I’d like to see them stay with the run game some more.

Marquis Burks just caused another fumble.

They have a heavier set in the middle with Fair and Burks.. They seem to be more and more comfortable leaving the corners by themselves.

So far when Auburn only brings 3.. Cifford is comfortable. They tried a bltz and hit it up the seam twice in a row.

It looks like Auburn had a zone look with everybody hovering around the goal line and they play extended far too long.

Hunter out in space is something Bobo wants. You can see why.

2nd quarter

The pass rush has to pick it up. You might see some more blitz stuff. Penn State is moving things faster than they have been. They won’t slow down anytime soon.

That’s the good stuff. Nix looked it off and then hit the easy hitch to sure-handed Shenker.

Luketa flew out with the jet.. There may be an inside play open up from that. Bobo saw it I guarantee.

The back shoulder in the slot? Interesting.. Thats a wrinkle.

Not many lanes available in the zone run yet. They want to try to open that up with the jet sweeps and outside runs.

Great stuff. Luke Deal showing why he is so important. He washed his man down and Bigsby followed right behind. 10-7 Tigers.

Another note: Nix is hanging in the pocket right now. He’s taking some hits.. but delivering some nice balls.

The linebackers are getting stuck in no mans land too often. They have got to be more reactive to the run

Robertson has to catch that ball… He just lost yards for Auburn’s offense. Bottom line.

The back shoulder to Shenker in the slot… WOW. The previous staff didn’t think those guys could handle those tasks.. Shame.

Theres an RPO… Literally anything is on the table for this offense. Pre snap read to go to the screen.

3rd down play calling has been viscous.. Love that. Nix had so much time there, but nobody open.. That was a fear with these receivers.. But how much different does this team look? Unbelievable.

Penn State runs the zone cutback well.. It is so hard to stop.

So far the defensive line has not been overly impressive. Not horrible against the run, but cannot get free from the blocks.

And again.. Cannot get off of blocks.

Auburn’s defense has not proven they can stop the run when they have to. They will have to tighten that up.

Another coverage bust at the goal line… That is what multiple tight ends can do when going out in routes. You have to be SOUND in defending that. 14 -10 Penn State

Two quick throws to Shenker is what Penn State wanted.. Look for a deep ball coming… and there it is.. Shed couldn’t keep his footing. Ouch.

FINALLY, there was pressure on the QB, and what is the result? a pick. Thats why it is so important. And you already know Zakoby McClain brought the heat.

Make sure to tune into Justin, Jeffrey, and myself on twitter live with some halftime thoughts.

3rd quarter

Well, that’s a start.. We didn’t want cute, right? Don’t care for that. Not a time for mistakes.

Linebackers did not drop because they are worried about stopping the run.. Penn State is keeping them in no mans land making them a non-factor.

That was a very bad momentum swing for the Tigers. 21-10 Penn State.

Another gimmicky play, but this time effective.

The Power read play could be good for Auburn.. It gets the defense moving lateral and then hits it inside.

There’s Ja’Varrius Johnson.. Was looking for him.

Another RPO, Auburn may need to go with a few more of those with the box being tight.

There was one lane available and Hunter found it. Thats why he’s taking carries from Bigsby.

There is nice movement up front right now, but they can’t get to the second level, that’s why they can’t break a big run.

The toss crack came back for a second time and proves true. Luke Deal earns the pancake and Bigsby ran hard to get there. Love that. 21-17 Penn State. The run game found some footing on that drive.

Now can they stop Penn States offense?

These are the moments you learn the most about your team.. Are they resilient? Will they fight to the end? Can they make the plays they MUST make? We are about to find out.

Looks like Derek Mason is still working that zone coverage.

Major play by the team captain Chandler Wooten. WOW

A fake?? and Auburn looked ready for it. And 100% stopped forward progress..

Auburn MUST capitalize on this momentum shift.

Just when Auburn needed it, Bo takes off. Huge play.

Outside Zone with Hunter. I LOVE IT. He can find the creases as well or better than Bigsby.

BAD miscommunication up front. Absolutely worst time possible.

4th quarter

Anders comes in and does what he does. 21-20 Penn State

Does Auburn have another stop in them? They better.

It is time for Auburn’s front to bow up.

Great break on the ball by Pritchett, but Dotson is a dynamic play maker.

Tight end as the tackle there. Have to account for them all the time.

McClain had two options.. make the play or let him score.. What in the hell do you do as a defender? You lose. The rules are not fair.

A field goal would be a huge victory..

That was good assignment football.

Painful play on that one after two huge stops. Defensive line couldn’t keep the OL off of the backers. Steiner was in on that one as well. 28-20 Penn State.

Bo finds Shenker once again. He throws it awkwardly, but he was wide open.

Running lanes are still pretty clogged.

Bo puts it in the perfect spot for Robertson.. Those plays have to be made. The difference in Auburn being good or great.. winning or losing.. Drops have made the difference tonight. not Bo Nix.

Crucial defensive drive coming up now.

Now THAT is a huge stop. Clifford is feeling way too comfortable, but Auburn kept him at bay and then makes the big stop when they had to.

You’d think with running lanes being so closed up, there’d be some open lanes in the passing game.. but Auburn receivers are struggling to get open.

Bigsby and Hunter are in together.. Hunter gets the huge block on the perimeter run. Nice job.

Theres the shot.. It was worth the try 100%

Theres that weird misdirection toss.. Fooled them and then Hunter went up and over.. WOW!

Tank wants to make it happen on his own too often.. There were more yards on the inside hit.

What do you do here if you’re Auburn?.. You have to think the tight end (Shenker) comes into play.. Do they run the ball? Very risky. Here we go..

I do not like this call. I hate it, in fact. That’s not a high percentage play. The throw was bad too. Not good on that one.

Luckily for Auburn, they’re in a good spot on the field.

Unfortunately, that was the correct call.

Somehow… Theres still a chance.

They hung in there.. The play calling in the tight moments was not what you’d hope for. The defense got stronger as the game went on and never quit. Bo Nix did enough to win and then some… he is going to need some help.