Observations: Auburn 34, Georgia State 24

The Tigers got as close to disaster as they possibly could. The win showed guts — and underscored a lot of issues heading into SEC play.

QB T.J. Finley (Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics)

It was nearly a disaster. And avoiding disaster doesn’t erase what got you there.

Auburn has never lost to a Sun Belt team. But for the vast majority of its homecoming game against Georgia State on Saturday, it felt like it was going to do so. The Tigers were a mess on defense, largely lifeless on offense and getting doubled up by a team that lost by a combined score of 102-27 to Army and North Carolina.

Yet it still found a way. Led by their backup quarterback and a group of wide receivers that have had a tough start to the 2021 season, the Tigers went on a 98-yard drive that ended with a last-gasp touchdown on a busted fourth-down play.

A pick-six two snaps later made it arguably the least impressive double-digit victory in program history. And, in all honesty, Auburn is going to put the absolute limits of the old “a win is a win” cliché to the test with this one.

Here are the Observations from Auburn’s 34-24 win over Georgia State, along …