Defense sparks Auburn to victory

The Tigers stop three fourth-down passes in the red zone as the Rebels’ three-game run ends.

AUBURN, Ala. — Bo Nix passed for 276 yards and a touchdown and ran for two more scores and No. 18 Auburn’s defense made a number of big stops in a 31-20 victory over 10thranked Mississippi on Saturday night.

The Tigers (6-2, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) remained the top challenger to No. 3 Alabama in the Western Division with Nix winning a quarterback duel with Heisman candidate Matt Corral.

The Rebels (6-2, 3-2) had their three-game winning streak end after squandering four second-half scoring chances, three with failed fourth-down passes inside the 20.

Plus Jaylin Simpson intercepted a pass in the end zone — only Corral’s second this season — midway through the fourth.

“That’s points. They’re not going to take points on special teams,” Auburn coach Bryan Harsin said. “They’re going to go for it and we get the ball back. You kind of think of that as a turnover.

“Those were critical moments in the game that we were able to win.”

Nix completed 22 of 30 passes and ran for 30 yards.

Tank Bigsby ran for 140 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers.

“Bo made a lot of plays for them, especially early on,” Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin said. “I thought our defense after struggling early played especially well, gave us a bunch of chances offensively to win.

“That’s four times in the red zone with no points. That’s going to be hard to win.”

Corral had his 19-game streak with a touchdown pass end with a 21-of-37, 289-yard performance. He did run for a score, returning after getting carted to the locker room with an injury to his left ankle, previously hurt against Tennessee.

Jahcour Pearson caught seven passes for 135 yards for the Rebels.