Auburn Football's Biggest Priority Against Arkansas Is Simpler Than You Think

The Auburn Tigers have an opportunity to get back on track Saturday when Arkansas comes to Jordan-Hare Stadium.

And while a convincing victory would certainly be encouraging, I don't think the Tigers need to worry about how many points they win by.

They just need to win.

Auburn enters Saturday's matchup with a 4-4 record after going 1-3 during a difficult October stretch that included Tennessee, Georgia, LSU and Ole Miss.

The Tigers managed to pull off an impressive upset over Georgia, but consecutive losses to LSU and Ole Miss have raised plenty of concerns and have dampened the excitement of taking down the number one team in the country. 

And understandably so.

Auburn's offense has struggled to move the football consistently, while its defense has taken a significant step backward over the last two games.

But considering the level of competition Auburn faced in October, I don't think it's unreasonable to believe the Tigers can turn things around over the final four games.

That starts with Arkansas.

There's been some discussion about whether Auburn needs to win convincingly Saturday to prove it's making progress under Alex Golesh.

And while I understand that argument, I don't necessarily agree with it.

Auburn hasn't been in a position to worry about style points for several years.

The Tigers have struggled to consistently win SEC games, and simply finding ways to win has been one of the biggest challenges facing the program.

That's why I think Golesh deserves some credit for what Auburn has already accomplished this season.

The Tigers found ways to win close games against Baylor, Vanderbilt, and Georgia.

Those weren't always pretty performances, but Auburn made enough plays when it mattered to come away with victories.

And considering how many close games Auburn has lost in recent seasons, that's an encouraging development.

Now, that doesn't mean Auburn should be satisfied with another sloppy performance against Arkansas.

The Tigers still need to establish a more consistent running game, eliminate unnecessary penalties, and avoid the mistakes that have repeatedly hurt them this season.

Golesh has acknowledged that Auburn needs to develop an identity offensively, particularly when it comes to running the football.

And Arkansas provides an opportunity to make progress in that area.

But if Auburn struggles offensively and still finds a way to win by three points, I'm not going to consider that a disappointment.

Would I rather see the Tigers establish their running game, play better defensively, and win by three touchdowns?

Absolutely.

But winning games in the SEC isn't easy, regardless of the opponent.

And for a program trying to establish a winning culture again, every conference victory matters.

There's also a bigger picture to consider.

If Auburn beats Arkansas, the Tigers will improve to 5-4 with Mississippi State and Samford next on the schedule.

That would give Auburn a realistic opportunity to reach seven wins before traveling to Tuscaloosa for the Iron Bowl.

And I think finishing with seven wins in Golesh's first season would represent meaningful progress, especially considering the challenges Auburn has faced.

But that opportunity becomes much more difficult if the Tigers lose Saturday.

That's why the final score isn't nearly as important to me as the result.

Auburn fans would certainly prefer a comfortable victory over Arkansas.

But whether the Tigers win by three points or three touchdowns, the most important thing is finding a way to win.