Film Room: Auburn's passing struggles vs. ranked teams are limiting its ceiling

Bo Nix and the air attack have improved in 2020. Yet they aren't taking the next step in the biggest games, like Saturday's Iron Bowl.

Before the 2020 season began, I wrote a story titled “The biggest thing keeping Auburn from joining college football’s elite tier.” That thing was offensive explosiveness, as the teams competing for a national championship were ones who were consistently moving the ball in large chunks.

So far in 2020, Auburn has become a more explosive offense. The passing attack is averaging more explosive plays per game, and the rushing attack has generated big-time yardage with the likes of Tank Bigsby and a revamped offensive line.

However, with two games left in the all-SEC regular season, Auburn is 5-3 with two lopsided losses against top-tier rivals to its name. As of right now, those are the only two ranked teams Auburn has played all season — a sign of the growing chasm between the elites and the rest in the conference.

In college football, 2019 was the Year of the Huge Play, as the best teams were the explosive ones. In 2020, it’s become the Year of the Passing Attack.

Three of the four College…