Checking in on the Week 8 temperatures in Auburn, Ala., …

HOT

Duke Williams. Despite a fumble on the Tigers’ second offensive play that would lead to a Mississippi State touchdown, Williams has been unbelievable for Auburn this season. He’s caught 31 passes for nearly 500 yards and a five touchdowns. Williams again was the leading receiver for Auburn in the loss in Starkville, catching six balls for 108 yards and two scores. He has size, he has speed and arguably the best hands in the country. Williams is said to be able to catch any pass within 10 feet of him, and time-and-time again he shows how to properly catch passes with your hands away from your chest. With Sammie Coates hampered by an early-season injury, how lucky has Nick Marshall been to have had Williams?

WARM

The defense. Despite surrendering 469 yards of total offense to a very good Bulldog offense, Ellis Johnson’s defense played well. It was put in a terrible hole early down 21-0, and for Auburn not only to hold serve, but to force four takeaways and allow its offense to get the Tigers back into the game is a heck of an effort. Auburn struggled to get off the field on third downs, an area that had been its strength.

COLD

The Tigers’ chances in the SEC West. With the balance at the top of the division, the loss hurt Auburn. Gus Malzahn’s team isn’t out of the race for SEC West and College Football Playoff, but it cannot afford any more slip-ups. The Tigers can’t worry about its ranking or its standing in the eyes of the selection committee, it just has to go out and try to win games against four more top 25 opponents during the final six weeks of the season.

FROZEN

Nick Marshall’s completion percentage. Yes, coaches have said that’s not the most important metric when evaluating Marshall, but one can’t help but notice the 54.8 percent completion rate on his stat line. Inconsistency has plagued Marshall this season, especially mechanically. Protection up front has been an issue at times, but at this point in the season, Marshall is actually more accurate throwing the ball downfield. It’s the short-to-intermediate range — six to 12 yards — in which he really struggles.