Dating back to last season, Auburn has struggled mightily on special teams, and those issues ultimately cost the Tigers a chance at a top-25 road win against then-No. 11 Oklahoma last Saturday.

With just over four minutes remaining, after the Sooners’ go-ahead touchdown drive, Auburn had a chance to march downfield and seize the lead. But the Tigers’ last offensive drive started inside their own 10-yard line due to a special teams penalty on the attempted kickoff return – the second of the day in that facet.

While that penalty was a detrimental one in itself, Auburn had already seen a 50-yard field goal missed, a punt fielded inside its own 5-yard line by Malcolm Simmons, an arrant snap on a punt which led to a Sooners’ touchdown and the aforementioned penalty on another kickoff return.

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