The Auburn Tigers knew they were going into College Station to face a huge challenge this weekend against a top-ten Texas A&M Aggies team in front of one of the loudest crowds in the country at Kyle Field.

While it was a fight until the end, Auburn ultimately did not do even close to enough on the offensive side of the ball to have a real chance in a 16-10 loss. The Tigers found the end zone once, but it was on a two-yard score after a long interception return set them up 1st and goal from inside the five.

A three and out for Auburn on the opening drive was a common theme of the afternoon before the Aggies went right down the field on their first drive to answer with a lead.

From there, the first half was largely a slog as the offense for Auburn struggled to get going, suffering four three and outs in their first six possessions but playing well enough defensively to stay in the game. At halftime, Texas A&M led 13-3, and the Aggies would miss field goals on their first two possessions of the second half to keep the Tigers in it.

Early in the fourth quarter, Auburn got their biggest play of the game right when it looked like Texas A&M was on the cusp of putting things away, returning the tipped interception all the way down to the two before Jackson Arnold ran it in.

It was still ultimately too little too late though, as Auburn for the rest of the day would go three and out twice and have Jackson Arnold sacked for the seventh time on fourth down to end the game.

Most concerning for the Tigers in the loss was their complete ineptitude on third down, finishing 0 for 13 and now over the last two weeks going 3 for 27. Auburn had a total of just 177 yards on offense on a day where the defense was phenomenal to hold a red hot Aggies offense to 16.

They handed the ball off to running backs just nine times even though Texas A&M has struggled to defend the run in another puzzling game plan from Hugh Freeze. Arnold finished 18 of 33 with 125 yards while they rushed collectively for just 52 yards as a team as well.

Up next is a bye for Auburn before they host the Georgia Bulldogs two weeks from now at Jordan-Hare Stadium.