An already disappointing season is only getting worse for Auburn football.

After a 24-10 win on the road at Kentucky, there seemed to be hope again. All was lost against Vanderbilt in a 17-7 loss.

It was such a slow game that Vanderbilt only gained 227 yards and still won. Auburn continues to find ways to lose games it shouldn’t and is now one loss away from missing a bowl game for the second time in three years.

Here’s how we graded the loss to Vanderbilt:

Offend

Note: F

Losing a game when you hold your opponent under 250 total yards requires a special level of offense. Auburn did that on Saturday, and being held to seven points by Vanderbilt guarantees a grade.

It wasn’t a turnover-filled mess like some of Auburn’s previous losses, but the offense is starting to look almost incapable of scoring points. Auburn’s inability to finish drives and in every close game that has been part of the difference.

Payton Thorne threw for 239 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Not a bad day on paper, but through seven starts this season, he has yet to show the ability to take over games and put Auburn over the hump.

The more concerning and puzzling part of Saturday’s loss was Auburn’s lack of a rushing attack. After rushing for 278 yards against Kentucky, Jarquez Hunter was held to 50 yards against Vanderbilt on just 12 carries.

He only carried the ball twice in the second halfa questionable decision by Freeze and the coaching staff not to lean more on their best player.

Teams are what they are at this point in the season and that seems to be the case with Auburn. When Hunter can start, the offense is good, but otherwise the unit is not a threat in the Southeastern Conference.

Defense

Grade: A-

Life isn’t fair to Auburn’s defense. Every week, the unit performs well and keeps Auburn in games, but almost every week, it’s not enough.

With all the talk coming into the game about Diego Pavia and his return, Auburn shut him down. Pavia threw for 143 yards on 9-for-22 passing and rushed for just 26 yards on 12 carries.

Auburn basically took him out of the game and did a great job of limiting him as a runner and containing the option that Vanderbilt continually showed.

Through the air, Auburn did not allow a completion during the second and third quarters. Freshman cornerback Jay Crawford is slowly becoming a star on the outside, making several nice pass breakups down the field.

It’s hard to find anything negative to say about Auburn’s defense in this game. Unfortunately for those players, their efforts were again wasted.

Special teams

Note: D

Special teams were almost as responsible for this loss as the offense.

With two missed field goals and a critical leverage penalty on Vanderbilt’s fourth-quarter field goal, only Oscar Chapman’s good points keep this from being a flop.

Towns McGough had a rough season, but returned to field duties for Auburn after Alex McPherson was ruled out before the game. His touchdowns came from 44 and 52, and the staff’s decision to attempt a 52-yarder in the fourth quarter was a questionable one.

The leverage penalty on Vanderbilt’s field goal attempt led to the Commodores’ touchdown that made the game a 10-point game. Freeze disagreed with the call when asked during the postgame press conference, but that doesn’t change the outcome.

If Auburn were a better overall team, the special teams issues wouldn’t stand out as much. But when you’re a team with little margin for error, special teams mistakes can be decisive.

Coaching

Note: D

DJ Durkin and the defensive staff deserve a lot of credit for their game plan to limit Pavia and Vanderbilt’s offense. Other than them, there is nothing else positive to say about Auburn’s coaching staff in this game.

The offense doesn’t seem to be improving at all and is starting to look like more of a quarterback problem. It’s hard to fathom walking away from Hunter as much as Auburn did after his performance last week, and it’s not the first time this season the play has been called into question.

Concerns have become high enough to cause Freeze to be asked whether or not he’s considering changing who makes the plays and the play-calling structure. Freeze said “no,” but said he would consider “limiting the scope of what we’re trying to do.”

In general

Note: D

This game felt like a new low for Auburn.

He’s had plenty of lows this season, but losing by double digits at home as an eight-point favorite when your opponent puts up 227 total yards is just as bad. It’s an even worse look when the opponent is Vanderbilt, even if Vanderbilt has a superior record.

The season now feels close to losing, with wins at both Texas A&M and Alabama needed for Auburn to reach bowl eligibility. Now, as the Tigers enter their second bye week, the focus will be on what — if anything — Auburn can take from its final three games.

At least it’s basketball season, right?

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow X at @peter_rauterkus or email them at [email protected]m