Auburn’s Stidham is back in a big game
Quarterback Jarrett Stidham would look awfully good in a Baylor uniform right now. Of course, he looks awfully good in an Auburn uniform, too.
Stidham played well as a true freshman at Baylor in 2015, replacing the injured Bryce Petty down the stretch, but got out ahead of the troubles that have descended upon Waco. Stidham went to a community college last autumn, didn’t play football and then signed with Auburn.
Now he’s leading the 13th-ranked Tigers, who Saturday play a showdown game at third-ranked Clemson.
“You come to Auburn to play in games like this,” said Auburn offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey.
Of course, Stidham did the same at Baylor and did it quickly. In November 2015, the Bears were ranked fourth when they hosted No. 12 OU and Stidham started. They were ranked 10th when they played at No. 4 OSU and Stidham started. Stidham’s combined totals from those games: 28 of 49 passing, 515 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions. Not bad for a true freshman.
Auburn was a talented team in need of a quarterback — anyone who saw OU’s Sugar Bowl victory last January — could see that.
Stidham figures to provide Auburn with a big upgrade in quarterbacking. Maybe not to the level of Cam Newton, who led Auburn to the national title in 2010, but at least to the level of Nick Marshall, who led Auburn to the 2013 national title game.
Lindsey calls Clemson a “measuring stick” for Auburn, but it’s much more than that. If Auburn pulls the upset, it moves into title contention, and the Alabama schools would have knocked off the ACC’s power duo of Florida State and Clemson in back-to-back weeks.
Stidham gives them a chance.