5 Auburn Players to Watch Against Mississippi State With Bowl Eligibility on the Line

Auburn has an opportunity to become bowl eligible Saturday when it travels to Starkville to face Mississippi State.

And if the Tigers want to extend their winning streak to three games, several players could have important roles in making that happen.

From Auburn's offensive playmakers to a pair of young defenders coming off encouraging performances, here are five Tigers who could make a significant impact against the Bulldogs.

Auburn has relied heavily on Brown throughout the season, and Saturday will likely be another game where the Tigers need their quarterback to produce.

Brown leads Auburn with 605 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, including 121 yards against Arkansas last weekend.

He also threw for 214 yards and three touchdowns in the second half against the Razorbacks.

But Auburn needs that kind of production earlier in games.

And considering Mississippi State has recorded just two interceptions this season, Brown could have opportunities to create explosive plays through the air.

Toodle is coming off one of the most impressive defensive performances by an Auburn freshman this season.

In his first collegiate defensive appearance, Toodle recorded 11 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks against Arkansas.

And now the challenge becomes building on that performance.

"Now there's expectation. Now how do you handle it?" Auburn head coach Alex Golesh said Wednesday.

Mississippi State has allowed 31 sacks this season, including 17 over its last four games.

That could create another opportunity for Toodle to make an impact.

Auburn needs more consistent production from its running backs, and Cobb could be particularly important Saturday.

Cobb has rushed for 396 yards on 81 carries this season, averaging 4.9 yards per attempt.

But against Arkansas, he finished with just 41 yards on 11 carries.

And while Brown has been effective running the football, Auburn can't continue relying so heavily on its quarterback.

Mississippi State ranks sixth in the SEC in rushing defense, making Cobb's ability to create yards even more important.

Auburn's pass rush is coming off its most productive performance of the season, recording six sacks against Arkansas.

And Smith could have another opportunity to make an impact against Mississippi State.

The Bulldogs have struggled to protect their quarterbacks, allowing the second-most sacks in the SEC.

Auburn defensive coordinator DJ Durkin specifically praised Smith and Darion Smith for their pass-rushing ability earlier this week.

"They they have some natural pass rush ability," Durkin said.

If Smith can consistently win one-on-one matchups, Auburn could make things difficult for Mississippi State quarterback AJ Swann.

Auburn has struggled to consistently create explosive plays through the air, but Neptune could have opportunities against Mississippi State.

The Bulldogs have talented outside cornerbacks, which could make attacking the middle of the field an attractive option.

And while Auburn's offensive line has struggled with pass protection, Mississippi State has recorded just 23 sacks this season.

That could give Brown more time to find Neptune downfield.

Auburn has attempted to create opportunities through its slot receivers throughout the season, but hasn't consistently connected on those plays.

And Neptune could be an important part of changing that Saturday.

Auburn still has plenty of areas where it needs to improve, but the Tigers have shown an ability to win games despite those struggles.

And with bowl eligibility on the line, strong performances from these five players could make a significant difference in whether Auburn leaves Starkville with its sixth victory.