Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn listens to an official's call during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Mississippi State, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)Auburn has fired coach Gus Malzahn, who led the Tigers to the national championship game in his first season but could never replicate that success. They were also upset by a struggling South Carolina, which wound up firing coach Will Muschamp during the season. We will begin a search immediately for a coach that can help the Auburn program consistently compete at the highest level.””Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele will be interim coach. Auburn will owe Malzahn a $21.45 million buyout for the remaining four years of a seven-year, $49 million deal.

9 Tigers host Kent State on homecoming weekend. ABOUT KENT STATE (1-1)Junior quarterback Dustin Crum was a surprise starter last week over junior Woody Barrett, who began his collegiate career at Auburn before transferring to Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Mississippi and Kent State. The Tigers are last in the country by allowing 35.8 yards per punt return but Kent State has totaled only 26 yards on six chances. Auburn is 7-0 against the MAC - it beat Ball State 54-30 in its last such encounter in 2009 - but has never faced Kent State. PREDICTION: Auburn 45, Kent State 10More college football scores

9 Tigers host Kent State on homecoming weekend. ABOUT KENT STATE (1-1)Junior quarterback Dustin Crum was a surprise starter last week over junior Woody Barrett, who began his collegiate career at Auburn before transferring to Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Mississippi and Kent State. The Tigers are last in the country by allowing 35.8 yards per punt return but Kent State has totaled only 26 yards on six chances. Auburn is 7-0 against the MAC - it beat Ball State 54-30 in its last such encounter in 2009 - but has never faced Kent State. PREDICTION: Auburn 45, Kent State 10More college football scores

Woody Barrett #15 of the Kent State Golden Flashes passes the ball during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)