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auburntigers.com The Opening Drive: Auburn at LSU Auburn University Athletics 11–14 minutes AUBURN, Ala. – With no football game last weekend, the Auburn players took full advantage of the bye week. Gunner Britton went hunting back home. Marcus Harris went home and attended his little brother's high school football game. Jaylin Simpson stayed in town, carved pumpkins, and spent his Saturday watching football. Oscar Chapman played a lot of golf. It was just what the Tigers needed to reset for the second half of the season. "Just having this time to recover your body, this is a long season," Harris said. "We just played two very physical, good teams. It was a good little break we had. It was perfect timing. Now we're about to play another great team. Just having an off week before we play LSU, it's very good. Hopefully we can capitalize off that." "Guys can get healthy," added Larry Nixon III who went back home to see his son. "That's one big thing for us. Everybody was able to take some time off and get healthy. When you take time, you realize how much it means to you to be out there playing. You miss it. Everybody feels that. I'm looking forward to seeing the fire in everybody this week." There was a new energy in the building this week when the players returned and not just because of the time off but because of what lies ahead. A road trip to LSU. Auburn and LSU have played some epic games over the years with 13 of the last 19 meetings decided by seven points or less. Auburn snapped a long losing streak in Death Valley two years ago, winning 24-19, and this year's team would love nothing more than to do it again. It won't be easy, however, against an LSU team that ranks No. 5 nationally in scoring offense, averaging 44.8 points per game. "I think their offense is the most explosive that I've seen in a long time," Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze said. "I wasn't coaching when they had their run with Joe Burrow, but this quarterback, if he's not in the Heisman discussion, there's a problem. He is playing at an incredibly high level with dynamic receivers. There's not a weakness on that offense. "It's going to be a great challenge for our kids and a great college environment. I'm excited as heck about it, and I know our kids will be." Auburn and LSU will kick off at 6 p.m. CT from Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. The game will be televised on ESPN with Joe Tessitore, Jesse Palmer and Katie George on the call. You can also listen to Andy Burcham, Jason Campbell, Ronnie Brown and Will Herring who will have the radio call on 94.3 FM, online at AuburnTigers.com and on the Auburn app. Q: How did the bye week help the team reset before LSU? A: It was real big. We're going to Death Valley. We're going to play the LSU Tigers in Death Valley. I can't wait. You've got to have a good reset for this game. We've just got to be ready because they're a high-powered offense. They're going to have the crowd roaring the whole night. From a defensive standpoint, this is going to be a fun game for us. They've got elite receivers. They've got an elite quarterback. It should be fun. Q: What do you remember from winning at LSU two years ago? A: That game was fun because it was like 20-something years we hadn't beaten them there. So, we wanted to win real bad. What I'm trying to do right now is get everybody to understand that since I've been here, I'm 2-2 against LSU. This is the tiebreaker because we don't play them next year. You've got to be pumped for it. We've got to go there and get a W. Q: How do you keep getting interceptions week after week? You've had one in every game but one this season. A: I'm really supposed to have one in every game. That one in the A&M game, the sun was blocking the ball when Evan Stewart scored. I couldn't see the ball, but that would have been an easy one. But the interceptions, I'm getting the call, and I'm just doing my job. That's all it is. There's not really too much magic to it. I wouldn't say right place, right time. I just get the call, play my keys and do my job, and it just hits me in the hands. Auburn trails the all-time series with LSU by a 32-24-1 count. The home team has won 18 of the last 23 in the series. Thirteen of the last 19 meetings have been decided by seven points or less, including the four games from 2016-19, which were decided by a total of 14 points. LSU leads 19-6-1 in games on its home field. However, last time at LSU (2021), Auburn won in Baton Rouge for the first time since 1999 with a come-from-behind 24-19 victory. The offense drove 92 yards to score the go-ahead touchdown, a 1-yard run from Jarquez Hunter with 3:11 to play. Bydarrius Knighten snagged an interception to seal the win. Last year at Jordan-Hare Stadium, LSU was a 21-17 winner. Since the SEC moved to two divisions in 1992, LSU leads the series 17-14. In 25 of the last 28 meetings between Auburn and LSU, at least one of the teams was ranked at the time of the game. In 14 of those, both teams were ranked. From 2002-14, at least one team was ranked in the AP Top 10 at the time of the matchup, with both teams ranked in the top 10 three times during that stretch (2006, 2008 and 2010). 21: With 219 rushing yards against Georgia, Auburn moved up to No. 21 nationally (No. 3 in the SEC) in rushing offense at 202.0 yards per game. Twelve of the Tigers' 17 offensive touchdowns this season have come via the ground game. 4: With four interceptions in the first five games, Jaylin Simpson is one of two FBS players tied for the national lead in interceptions (0.80 per game). He was the first Auburn player with interceptions in three straight games (UMass, Cal, Samford) since Jerraud Powers in 2007, and he added his fourth pick the last time out against Georgia. 71: Oscar Chapman was the Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week last week for his performance against Georgia, highlighted by a career-best 71-yard punt, fourth longest in FBS this season and third longest in Auburn history. His five punts totaled 256 yards. 18: Since the 2000 season, Auburn is 18-9 after an in-season bye week (11-4 at home; 7-5 on the road). In 2021, the Tigers knocked off No. 10 Ole Miss after the bye. Players Mentioned #91 Oscar Chapman P 6' 3" Senior Business #50 Marcus Harris DL 6' 3" Senior Liberal Arts #27 Jarquez Hunter RB 5' 10" Junior Forestry, Wildlife & Environment #36 Jaylin Simpson CB 6' 1" Senior Business #53 Gunner Britton OL 6' 6" Senior Liberal Arts #30 Larry Nixon III LB 6' 1" Senior Liberal Arts

247sports.com What makes this Auburn offense a unique challenge for LSU defense Glen West 4–6 minutes When preparing for this Auburn offense, coach Brian Kelly was asked if there are any comparisons to past offenses LSU has faced this season. Kelly’s immediate response was that from a running perspective, this is an offense that’s much closer to Ole Miss in the way both have mobile quarterbacks and dynamic runners out of the backfield. From a passing perspective, Auburn doesn’t lean too heavily offensively through the air as it ranks towards the bottom of the SEC in yards per game with 156. This is a pretty unique offense that Auburn has implemented in year one under Hugh Freeze as so much of it runs through the two quarterbacks Payton Thorne and Robbie Ashford. But it’s far less about the threat those two have from a passing perspective but rather their ability to affect the game on the ground. While Thorne is considered the starter, Auburn does like to throw Ashford into the mix quite a bit as he’s proven to be a dynamic runner. In 2022, he rushed for 710 yards and seven touchdowns. This season those yards aren’t exactly on pace with last year because the number of touches has dramatically decreased. But the impact has stayed relatively the same as Ashford averages five yards a carry and has scored five touchdowns in six games on the ground. In total, this Auburn rushing attack averages 202 yards per game, which is No. 20 in the country, with Jarquez Hunter also making an impact out of the backfield. “This is a very difficult offense to defend, they’re physical up front, the quarterback situation gives you great versatility in terms of being able to run it and throw it,” Kelly said. “Each offense has its own identity and this one’s a little bit different in that you’re gonna see Payton Thorne but you’re gonna see Ashford too and he’s an outstanding runner. You’ve gotta defend the quarterback as much more of a running threat. Then the passing game, I’d say there’s a little similarity [to Missouri] but the run game is a lot more unique. You’re dealing with counter, quarterback counter, misdirection and the quarterback being central in their offense in terms of running.” One of the struggles of this defense this year has been defending mobile quarterbacks. But many of the mobile quarterbacks LSU has faced have also been pretty consistent in extending plays and making throws downfield. That’s not exactly the first instinct of these Auburn quarterbacks so it’ll be imperative for the defensive line to continue growing. Staying gap sound, clogging up those running lanes and finishing plays for these Auburn quarterbacks and running backs will be priority No. 1 in shutting down this offense. The techniques and drill work this d-line has been putting in over the last few weeks since Pete Jenkins’ arrival is something Kelly hopes will get this group playing with more consistency. “There’s a long way to go here and we’re gonna have to continue working on consistency but I think just having somebody with his wealth of experience where you can get into drill work and technique during the season is extremely helpful,” Kelly said. “When everybody is focusing more on gameplanning, we’re focusing a lot more on out defensive line with technique work and I think that’s gonna be beneficial for us.” One area that LSU would like to see a continued level of impact is in the turnover department. Auburn ranks outside of the top 100 in sacks allowed to opposing defenses with 15 on the year, has fumbled eight times and lost four and thrown four interceptions as well. Being a more opportunistic defense by giving the purple and gold offense extra possessions with those game changing plays would be an excellent identity to start creating. The Missouri game was really the first time we got to see this defense capitalize on those game changing plays, with a pair of interceptions and a forced fumble that backed the offense into a fourth down situation that was nearly impossible to convert. “We sure hope so. Turnovers, tackles for loss, sacks, those things become contagious and we’re hoping we catch a little bit of that. You gotta make a couple of plays and we hadn’t made any plays up to this point,” Kelly said. “These are the kind of things that get a defense feeling good about themselves and gain some confidence. I think it comes down to being in the right place, being fundamentally sound and then making some plays when you have an opportunity.”

saturdaydownsouth.com Hugh Freeze insists Auburn’s defense has been good ‘at most things’ through Week 6 Andrew Peters | 23 hours ago ~3 minutes Auburn has had a rocky 3-2 start to the season, but Hugh Freeze still likes what he’s seen from his team’s defense so far. Freeze believes his defense is doing what it’s supposed to, but still has room for improvement. Mostly, he wants to avoid having more than a few plays a game where a slip up costs them. Having a few less slip ups could have been the difference in Auburn’s narrow loss to Georgia a few weeks ago. “I think we’ve been pretty good at most things,” Freeze said during the SEC coaches teleconference Wednesday. “I guess like all teams, and with us, collectively as a whole team struggling in some areas. Those margin of error for victory come down to a few plays and defensively we’ve played extremely well a lot of times. But we still will have those 5 or 6 plays a game that we may screw up alignment or assignment and it costs us. And those are the ones that because of, again, the whole makeup of our team, probably are magnified more. But I think our kids are playing extremely hard and competitive level.” He also emphasized that if he can get his team healthy, the defense will see some improvement. “Now we’re not as healthy,” Freeze said. “I think if we’d be really, really good if we’d have everybody healthy. But like many teams, we’re going through those difficulties also.” Auburn will needs its defense to step up on Saturday as the Tigers take on LSU in Death Valley.

si.com Auburn TE Rivaldo Fairweather discusses LSU game Daniel Locke ~3 minutes Auburn tight end Rivaldo Fairweather has been a difference make for the offense this season. What are his thoughts heading into the LSU game? Auburn heads down to Baton Rouge, La. this weekend for a matchup with No. 22 LSU. Tight end Rivaldo Fairweather previewed what lies ahead for Auburn. This game comes at a good time for Auburn as it is fresh off the bye week. "We got time to recover and get our bodies right," Fairweather said. "We took time to focus on the small things and get some work in." Fairweather discussed some areas that both the tight ends and wide receivers could improve in. "We can improve in the top of our routes," Fairweather said. "Breaking faster, being quarterback friendly, and coming back to the ball." LSU's defense is not highly ranked from a statistical standpoint, but there is a lot of talent in it. Fairweather talked about what he has seen from it on film. "They have a lot of good talent out there," Fairweather said. "We're just going to go out there and do what we do best and execute what the coaches give us to do and just be great." Quarterback Payton Thorne took a step forward in the eyes of many during the Georgia game. Fairweather talked about what he has seen from his quarterback since that game. "He's doing great," Fairweather said. "I feel like everybody was frustrated after that because we feel like we could have came out with that one. It's football it happens, so we've just got to come back harder." A good performance from Fairweather on Saturday night could go a long way towards helping Auburn pick up its second-straight win in Tiger Stadium.

auburnwire.usatoday.com Behind Enemy Lines: Auburn-LSU preview with LSU Tigers Wire's Tyler Nettuno Taylor Jones 4–5 minutes Auburn football returns from the bye week to face No. 20 LSU on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN. LSU enters the game with a 4-2 record. Their losses have come to top-15 teams: No. 4 Florida State and No. 13 Ole Miss, both away from Tiger Stadium. The Tigers avoided an upset bid by No. 25 Missouri last Saturday. Missouri led by as much as 22-7 with 10:47 remaining in the 2nd quarter before LSU outscored Missouri, 42-17 the remainder of the game to pull off the 49-39 victory in Columbia. What are LSU’s main weaknesses? How much would a win over Auburn mean to the LSU fanbase? Can quarterback Jayden Daniels be stopped? To find the answers to those questions, we called upon LSU Wire editor Tyler Nettuno. Nettuno provided valuable analysis ahead of Saturday’s rivalry matchup in an effort to provide Auburn fans with inside knowledge of the LSU football program. Here is this week’s edition of Behind Enemy Lines featuring Tyler Nettuno of LSU Tigers Wire. Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports LSU has dropped two games so far this season. What was the biggest factor in each of those losses? It’s pretty clearly the defense. The Tigers have a ton of questions in the secondary having allowed 45 and 55 points in each of its two losses. The defense was still an issue last week in a win over Missouri, as it was in Week 4’s win over Arkansas. Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports What is the vibe around LSU football heading into the second half of the season? It’s currently pretty low. This team entered the year with high expectations and is so far not living up to them. I don’t think many expected LSU would be out of the CFP race by October, and there’s a ton of frustration surrounding the defense and defensive coordinator Matt House. Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports Jayden Daniels has been one of the nation’s top passers so far. How do you expect his battle with Jaylin Simpson, who is one of the top safeties in the country? Last season, I would have been more concerned. But Daniels has been really sharp this season passing the ball, and his decision-making has been stellar with a select few exceptions. Simpson is a great player, but you can’t guard both Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. as a safety. John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports Auburn’s quarterback rotation has been a mixed bag of sorts this season. How has LSU’s defense performed against dual-threat quarterbacks this season? Dual-threat quarterbacks continue to be a thorn in the side of this team after allowing big games to Jordan Travis, KJ Jefferson and Jaxson Dart. The Tigers were better against Mississippi State, when they got a ton of pressure on quarterback Will Rogers, and that seems to be the key for this defense finding success. © SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK Auburn has struggled in Death Valley over the last two decades but was able to sneak out with a win two seasons ago. How much of a factor will the atmosphere of Tiger Stadium play in an LSU win? It’s always going to be a factor when it’s a night game in Death Valley. As any team who plays the Tigers annually knows, it’s significantly harder to win there. Last year’s game was tight in Auburn, and though this matchup is more even on paper this time, I think the crowd could play a major factor. © SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK What is your final score prediction? I have LSU winning, 35-20.

247sports.com Freeze's midweek assessments as Auburn prepares for LSU Nathan King 5–6 minutes "Hopefully we can take the good things we did against Georgia, improve on them and correct the things we didn’t do well.” xx On this weekend’s game … “We’re really excited about getting back after the open week to SEC play and another great challenge in Baton Rouge against a very talented LSU team. It’s one I’m really excited to see how our kids respond. We’ve had one away SEC game at A&M, and I thought we handled parts of it OK, parts of it not OK. Hopefully we can take the good things we did against Georgia, improve on them and correct the things we didn’t do well.” On Auburn’s defense this season … “I think we’ve been pretty good at most things. I guess like all teams, with us collectively as a whole team we’re struggling with some areas. Those margins of victory come down to just a few plays, and defensively we’ve played extremely well a lot of times. But we still will have those five or six plays a game that we may screw up alignment or assignment — and they cost us. Because again, the makeup of our team, it’s magnified more. But I think our kids are playing extremely hard at a competitive level. We’re not as healthy — we’d be really, really good if we had everyone healthy — but like many teams, we’re going through some of those difficulties also.” On his quarterback room … “I thought there was a lot of improvement in the Georgia game. I was really pleased with a lot of things. Like I said, there’s six-to-10 plays that certainly went the wrong way. And I’m not talking about Georgia’s athleticism just beating you, but us not coaching it properly, or our kids not executing properly. It really had a magnifying class on directly affecting the outcome, and that’s on us as coaches to get corrected for sure. I thought our quarterback play was pretty solid.” On his praise for LSU and its environment … “We had two shots to win there (when he was at Ole Miss). One of them was a whipping. We didn’t get it done. It’s a difficult place to play, and obviously they have some of the best talent in the country. It’s probably because my first experience was being the head coach at Ole Miss or an assistant at Ole Miss and listening to stories of that rivalry — from Johnny Vaught or former players that had played it. It was a pretty big rivalry for me when I first got in this conference. So I guess that’s probably why going there and competing has always felt very important. Not that other places don’t. And I like Garth Brooks, so I guess that plays a part in it, also.” On Garth Brooks … “(Have you been to a concert?) oh yeah. Several. He puts on a great show. I think he has a unique ability to make everybody in the audience feel like he honors you, which I feel like is a very attractive quality in people. Bruce Pearl has that same quality. He just makes you feel honored by him. Garth and Eric Church and guys like that have always given me that impression. That’s why I like them.” On LSU’s defense against Missouri … “They’ve gone back to being — I assume — they went back to playing very sound, not a lot of coverages. Everybody doing the same job over and over and over again. Obviously they have great athletes. It seems like they had a better understanding of what they wanted to get accomplished and putting people in the right spots. Again, maybe they see it different but that’s what it seems to me.” On his relationship with Brian Kelly … “At the SEC meetings we’ve obviously sat together and visited and talked about vacation spots and things. I can’t say we’ve done a lot of things off the field together but we certainly get along. I think a lot of him, obviously, and what he’s done as a coach. I’ve enjoyed being around him the times I have, and I think he does a great job.” On what it takes to be a successful play caller … “I think playcallers are kind of a different breed. I think there’s a ton of guys that can sit in a room and formulate an incredible game plan but don’t have the instincts and the ability to see what’s going on and how the defense is attacking in different ways. Then there’s those who probably can’t put on paper the greatest of game plans but can sit in the booth and have a knack to calling the game. There’s a difference in people like that. 2023 college football pick'em, Week 7 Take you shot at picking this week's top college football games.

auburnwire.usatoday.com Auburn trending for in-state safety Kaleb Harris JD McCarthy ~2 minutes Auburn’s 2024 recruiting class took a blow on Tuesday when four-star athlete Jalewis Solomon decommitted but help could be on the way as Auburn has ramped up its recruitment of three-star safety Kaleb Harris. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder is having a breakout season for the Thompson Warriors. In five games he has made 54 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, picked off four passes, broken up three more, forced a fumble and recovered another one. Buy Tigers Tickets Secondary coach Zac Etheridge is leading the charge for Auburn and while several programs are in pursuit of Harris, two recruiting experts believe Auburn will land him. Auburn Undercover’s Christian Clemente logged a crystal ball for Auburn to land Harris on Tuesday and Hale McGranahan of The BigSpur followed suit on Wednesday. Harris is the No. 671 overall player and No. 68 safety in the 247Sports composite ranking. The Alabaster native is also the No. 31 player from Alabama. If Auburn is able to land him, he would be their 18th commitment and fifth in the secondary, joining four-star safety Kensley Faustin and four-star cornerbacks A'mon Lane, Jayden Lewis and Jalyn Crawford. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow JD on Twitter @jdmccarthy15

si.com Charles Barkley on Auburn's QB play: 'If y’all gonna be down there baptizing people, please pray for better quarterback play' Lance Dawe ~3 minutes Barkley believes that Auburn's rotation at the position hasn't been helpful and should stop. Auburn has a problem at quarterback. Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne has not impressed through four games as the Tigers' primary signal-caller, leading offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery to pull him out for Robby Ashford, last year's starter. The rotation has been clunky, with no success and a clear lack of rhythm. It feels like a tale we've been reading about Auburn forever; they can't find a solid, consistent quarterback to lead the offense. The issue reared its ugly head once again on the road in a 27-10 loss to Texas A&M. Auburn legend Charles Barkley chimed in on the Tigers' quarterback situation on The Next Round show on Wednesday afternoon. "I'm all in on Coach Freeze," Barkley said. "Now I will say this - if y’all gonna be down there baptizing people, please pray for better quarterback play." Barkley believes that Auburn's rotation at the position hasn't been helpful and should stop. "You can't have your quarterback playing scared. You can't play three quarterbacks, you can't play two quarterbacks," Barkley said. "That's the most important position in sports. The number one thing you have to have as a player is confidence in yourself to make good plays and bad plays. If you're scared to make bad plays, you can't make good plays [...] you've got to make a decision and live with it. And if you give that kid a chance, and he can't do it, go to the next guy. But you can't be playing three quarterbacks." Barkley went on to tell a story about how Kenny Smith had Barkley call one of his AAU players the other day. He told the kid what he believes applies to the Tigers' QB situation here: "A coach can't give you confidence, but he can take your confidence." The Tigers take on the Georgia Bulldogs this Saturday, September 30th. Kickoff is at 2:30 pm CT and will be televised on CBS.

si.com What did Auburn safety Zion Puckett have to say ahead of the LSU game? Daniel Locke ~3 minutes The Auburn safety has seen an increased role due to injuries. What did he have to say ahead of another tough challenge? The Auburn Tigers travel to Baton Rouge, La. this weekend for a matchup with the No. 22 LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium. LSU has a reputation as being one of the toughest places to play in all of college football. Senior safety Zion Puckett previewed the contest and spoke about the preparation that has and will go into it. Auburn learned a lot against Georgia. Puckett talked about which lessons stuck out the most. "We're capable of beating anybody in the country," Puckett said. "That's something we're going to stand on the rest of the year. Just keep working each and every day." LSU has one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Jayden Daniels. Puckett talked about the challenge he poses and how playing against Robby Ashford in practice has helped prepare the defense. "I think that helps when you have somebody like Robby on your team," Puckett said. "Just being able to face different quarterbacks and scheme for different players." With the injury bug looming around the team, a lot of players have had to step up. Puckett mentioned a guy who he has been pleased with. "Always Kayin Lee," Puckett said. "He's been playing hard since he got here." Getting pressure on the quarterback will be crucial for Auburn to be successful this week. Puckett elaborated on that. "I think that would do a lot to contain the quarterback," Puckett said. "With a dual-threat quarterback, we'll try to figure out ways to confuse him." Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT. on Saturday and ESPN will carry the broadcast.

saturdaydownsouth.com Takeo Spikes predicts upset in SEC rivalry game Crissy Froyd | 15 hours ago ~3 minutes Takeo Spikes of the SEC Network released a bold take involving his alma mater ahead of Saturday, On “SEC Now,” Spikes predicted Auburn will defeat the LSU Tigers in an upset. “I said it,” Spikes said. “You put all of this on paper and you figure, will this be a high-scoring game? We know (LSU quarterback) Jayden Daniels, we know what he can do on the ground. He’s been consistently doing it. But this is a weird rivalry and they don’t call it a rivalry for nothing, so… maybe it could be an upset. I don’t know. I don’t know.” Though there have been some bumps in the road for LSU, with the trajectory the Bayou Bengals are on, especially in comparison to a team like Auburn, it would be no shortage of an update if Auburn were to get the win over the weekend. Auburn comes off of a close 27-20 loss to the No. 1-ranked Georgia Bulldogs, the most obvious fuel to the fire for a take like this because the Tigers were able to keep it close with the best team in the nation. That doesn’t necessarily indicate how that trickles into other matchups, though. LSU looks to stay winning after a 49-39 defeat of the Missouri Tigers. It will be interesting to see how this one shakes out in Tiger Stadium. "I said it." @TakeoSpikes51 says Auburn will upset LSU in Death Valley. Do you agree? ? pic.twitter.com/XY71zRD448 — SEC Network (@SECNetwork) October 11, 2023 TRENDING 58,148 READS 51,772 READS 23,016 READS Crissy Froyd Crissy covers SEC football news for Saturday Down South. Follow on Twitter.

guys i am having puter problems.i crashed saturday and did not get to see one football game.now my puter keeps wanting to post the same article over and over. i am working on it and hope to have it fixed soon.my apologies.............

247sports.com Auburn opens as doubledigit underdog at LSU Nathan King 4–5 minutes Hugh Freeze’s transition recruiting class at Auburn wasn’t as crucial for patching up the roster as the team’s transfer additions were, but the Tigers are still relying on a few members of the 2023 class in significant roles as only true freshmen. With Auburn now rested from its bye week, the team’s attention turns to a road tilt at LSU on Saturday (6 p.m. CDT, ESPN). An early bye week means Auburn has played only five games, two of which were comfortable home wins over non-Power Five programs. Those allowed the Tigers to get plenty of young faces on the field, as all but five members of their freshman class have appeared in a game so far this season. But who have been the most utilized youngsters this season, and which players are closest to burning their redshirts and becoming true sophomores in 2024? In 2018, the NCAA ruled that players can play in up to four games while maintaining a standard redshirt. The mandate has allowed inexperienced players to receive valuable playing time — even if just in garbage time against overmatched opponents — instead of riding the bench and only participating in practice all season. Properly managing redshirts, particularly from a freshman class, can create both added depth, along with a peek into what the future could hold for a program at various position groups. Mismanagement, however, can lead to a sticky situation — like when 4-star running back Asa Martin transferred from Auburn after the Tigers’ staff accidentally burned his redshirt by putting him in a fifth game on special teams. After a whopping 10 true freshmen burned their redshirts in Gus Malzahn’s final season in 2020, the immediate usage of Auburn’s recruiting classes has leveled out. Only two true freshmen appeared in more than than four games under Bryan Harsin in 2021, followed by six last season. The Tigers haven’t dipped too far into its freshman reserves and appear to have a fixed group of youngsters who will continue to help them this season. All three players who have already burned their redshirts have had clear roles since the preseason, and their usage thus far this season hasn’t come as a surprise. In total, 13 of Auburn’s 18 true freshmen have already appeared in at least one game. And with only one breezy nonconference game remaining — the week before the Iron Bowl against New Mexico State — there’s a high probability that those who have already burned their freshman redshirt will be the only ones. There are no Auburn freshmen currently sitting on the four-game fence. Barring injury — which, for example, forced safety Terrance Love to play against Texas A&M when the plan was probably to keep him sitting — those who have yet to appear in more than four games likely will not do so. Here’s what the participation looks like for Auburn’s 2023 class exiting the bye week and heading into the meat of the team’s conference schedule. The Tigers’ top-recruited talent is paying off so far, as the only players to have already burned their redshirts are three of the team’s top five-rated signees in the class. BURNED REDSHIRT • RB Jeremiah Cobb: 5 games • DE Keldric Faulk: 5 games • CB Kayin Lee: 5 games ELIGIBLE TO REDSHIRT • S Terrance Love: 3 games • CB Colton Hood: 2 games • JACK Brenton Williams: 2 games • C Connor Lew: 2 games • OT Tyler Johnson: 2 games • CB JC Hart: 1 game • CB Tyler Scott: 1 game • DB Sylvester Smith: 1 game • OT Dylan Senda: 1 game • QB Hank Brown: 0 games • OL Clay Wedin: 0 games • OL Bradyn Joiner: 0 games • DE Wilky Denaud: 0 games • DT Darron Reed Jr.: 0 games • DT Stephen Johnson: 0 games

247sports.com Auburn opens as doubledigit underdog at LSU Nathan King 4–5 minutes Hugh Freeze’s transition recruiting class at Auburn wasn’t as crucial for patching up the roster as the team’s transfer additions were, but the Tigers are still relying on a few members of the 2023 class in significant roles as only true freshmen. With Auburn now rested from its bye week, the team’s attention turns to a road tilt at LSU on Saturday (6 p.m. CDT, ESPN). An early bye week means Auburn has played only five games, two of which were comfortable home wins over non-Power Five programs. Those allowed the Tigers to get plenty of young faces on the field, as all but five members of their freshman class have appeared in a game so far this season. But who have been the most utilized youngsters this season, and which players are closest to burning their redshirts and becoming true sophomores in 2024? In 2018, the NCAA ruled that players can play in up to four games while maintaining a standard redshirt. The mandate has allowed inexperienced players to receive valuable playing time — even if just in garbage time against overmatched opponents — instead of riding the bench and only participating in practice all season. Properly managing redshirts, particularly from a freshman class, can create both added depth, along with a peek into what the future could hold for a program at various position groups. Mismanagement, however, can lead to a sticky situation — like when 4-star running back Asa Martin transferred from Auburn after the Tigers’ staff accidentally burned his redshirt by putting him in a fifth game on special teams. After a whopping 10 true freshmen burned their redshirts in Gus Malzahn’s final season in 2020, the immediate usage of Auburn’s recruiting classes has leveled out. Only two true freshmen appeared in more than than four games under Bryan Harsin in 2021, followed by six last season. The Tigers haven’t dipped too far into its freshman reserves and appear to have a fixed group of youngsters who will continue to help them this season. All three players who have already burned their redshirts have had clear roles since the preseason, and their usage thus far this season hasn’t come as a surprise. In total, 13 of Auburn’s 18 true freshmen have already appeared in at least one game. And with only one breezy nonconference game remaining — the week before the Iron Bowl against New Mexico State — there’s a high probability that those who have already burned their freshman redshirt will be the only ones. There are no Auburn freshmen currently sitting on the four-game fence. Barring injury — which, for example, forced safety Terrance Love to play against Texas A&M when the plan was probably to keep him sitting — those who have yet to appear in more than four games likely will not do so. Here’s what the participation looks like for Auburn’s 2023 class exiting the bye week and heading into the meat of the team’s conference schedule. The Tigers’ top-recruited talent is paying off so far, as the only players to have already burned their redshirts are three of the team’s top five-rated signees in the class. BURNED REDSHIRT • RB Jeremiah Cobb: 5 games • DE Keldric Faulk: 5 games • CB Kayin Lee: 5 games ELIGIBLE TO REDSHIRT • S Terrance Love: 3 games • CB Colton Hood: 2 games • JACK Brenton Williams: 2 games • C Connor Lew: 2 games • OT Tyler Johnson: 2 games • CB JC Hart: 1 game • CB Tyler Scott: 1 game • DB Sylvester Smith: 1 game • OT Dylan Senda: 1 game • QB Hank Brown: 0 games • OL Clay Wedin: 0 games • OL Bradyn Joiner: 0 games • DE Wilky Denaud: 0 games • DT Darron Reed Jr.: 0 games • DT Stephen Johnson: 0 games

247sports.com Auburn opens as doubledigit underdog at LSU Nathan King 4–5 minutes Hugh Freeze’s transition recruiting class at Auburn wasn’t as crucial for patching up the roster as the team’s transfer additions were, but the Tigers are still relying on a few members of the 2023 class in significant roles as only true freshmen. With Auburn now rested from its bye week, the team’s attention turns to a road tilt at LSU on Saturday (6 p.m. CDT, ESPN). An early bye week means Auburn has played only five games, two of which were comfortable home wins over non-Power Five programs. Those allowed the Tigers to get plenty of young faces on the field, as all but five members of their freshman class have appeared in a game so far this season. But who have been the most utilized youngsters this season, and which players are closest to burning their redshirts and becoming true sophomores in 2024? In 2018, the NCAA ruled that players can play in up to four games while maintaining a standard redshirt. The mandate has allowed inexperienced players to receive valuable playing time — even if just in garbage time against overmatched opponents — instead of riding the bench and only participating in practice all season. Properly managing redshirts, particularly from a freshman class, can create both added depth, along with a peek into what the future could hold for a program at various position groups. Mismanagement, however, can lead to a sticky situation — like when 4-star running back Asa Martin transferred from Auburn after the Tigers’ staff accidentally burned his redshirt by putting him in a fifth game on special teams. After a whopping 10 true freshmen burned their redshirts in Gus Malzahn’s final season in 2020, the immediate usage of Auburn’s recruiting classes has leveled out. Only two true freshmen appeared in more than than four games under Bryan Harsin in 2021, followed by six last season. The Tigers haven’t dipped too far into its freshman reserves and appear to have a fixed group of youngsters who will continue to help them this season. All three players who have already burned their redshirts have had clear roles since the preseason, and their usage thus far this season hasn’t come as a surprise. In total, 13 of Auburn’s 18 true freshmen have already appeared in at least one game. And with only one breezy nonconference game remaining — the week before the Iron Bowl against New Mexico State — there’s a high probability that those who have already burned their freshman redshirt will be the only ones. There are no Auburn freshmen currently sitting on the four-game fence. Barring injury — which, for example, forced safety Terrance Love to play against Texas A&M when the plan was probably to keep him sitting — those who have yet to appear in more than four games likely will not do so. Here’s what the participation looks like for Auburn’s 2023 class exiting the bye week and heading into the meat of the team’s conference schedule. The Tigers’ top-recruited talent is paying off so far, as the only players to have already burned their redshirts are three of the team’s top five-rated signees in the class. BURNED REDSHIRT • RB Jeremiah Cobb: 5 games • DE Keldric Faulk: 5 games • CB Kayin Lee: 5 games ELIGIBLE TO REDSHIRT • S Terrance Love: 3 games • CB Colton Hood: 2 games • JACK Brenton Williams: 2 games • C Connor Lew: 2 games • OT Tyler Johnson: 2 games • CB JC Hart: 1 game • CB Tyler Scott: 1 game • DB Sylvester Smith: 1 game • OT Dylan Senda: 1 game • QB Hank Brown: 0 games • OL Clay Wedin: 0 games • OL Bradyn Joiner: 0 games • DE Wilky Denaud: 0 games • DT Darron Reed Jr.: 0 games • DT Stephen Johnson: 0 games

247sports.com Auburn opens as doubledigit underdog at LSU Nathan King 4–5 minutes Hugh Freeze’s transition recruiting class at Auburn wasn’t as crucial for patching up the roster as the team’s transfer additions were, but the Tigers are still relying on a few members of the 2023 class in significant roles as only true freshmen. With Auburn now rested from its bye week, the team’s attention turns to a road tilt at LSU on Saturday (6 p.m. CDT, ESPN). An early bye week means Auburn has played only five games, two of which were comfortable home wins over non-Power Five programs. Those allowed the Tigers to get plenty of young faces on the field, as all but five members of their freshman class have appeared in a game so far this season. But who have been the most utilized youngsters this season, and which players are closest to burning their redshirts and becoming true sophomores in 2024? In 2018, the NCAA ruled that players can play in up to four games while maintaining a standard redshirt. The mandate has allowed inexperienced players to receive valuable playing time — even if just in garbage time against overmatched opponents — instead of riding the bench and only participating in practice all season. Properly managing redshirts, particularly from a freshman class, can create both added depth, along with a peek into what the future could hold for a program at various position groups. Mismanagement, however, can lead to a sticky situation — like when 4-star running back Asa Martin transferred from Auburn after the Tigers’ staff accidentally burned his redshirt by putting him in a fifth game on special teams. After a whopping 10 true freshmen burned their redshirts in Gus Malzahn’s final season in 2020, the immediate usage of Auburn’s recruiting classes has leveled out. Only two true freshmen appeared in more than than four games under Bryan Harsin in 2021, followed by six last season. The Tigers haven’t dipped too far into its freshman reserves and appear to have a fixed group of youngsters who will continue to help them this season. All three players who have already burned their redshirts have had clear roles since the preseason, and their usage thus far this season hasn’t come as a surprise. In total, 13 of Auburn’s 18 true freshmen have already appeared in at least one game. And with only one breezy nonconference game remaining — the week before the Iron Bowl against New Mexico State — there’s a high probability that those who have already burned their freshman redshirt will be the only ones. There are no Auburn freshmen currently sitting on the four-game fence. Barring injury — which, for example, forced safety Terrance Love to play against Texas A&M when the plan was probably to keep him sitting — those who have yet to appear in more than four games likely will not do so. Here’s what the participation looks like for Auburn’s 2023 class exiting the bye week and heading into the meat of the team’s conference schedule. The Tigers’ top-recruited talent is paying off so far, as the only players to have already burned their redshirts are three of the team’s top five-rated signees in the class. BURNED REDSHIRT • RB Jeremiah Cobb: 5 games • DE Keldric Faulk: 5 games • CB Kayin Lee: 5 games ELIGIBLE TO REDSHIRT • S Terrance Love: 3 games • CB Colton Hood: 2 games • JACK Brenton Williams: 2 games • C Connor Lew: 2 games • OT Tyler Johnson: 2 games • CB JC Hart: 1 game • CB Tyler Scott: 1 game • DB Sylvester Smith: 1 game • OT Dylan Senda: 1 game • QB Hank Brown: 0 games • OL Clay Wedin: 0 games • OL Bradyn Joiner: 0 games • DE Wilky Denaud: 0 games • DT Darron Reed Jr.: 0 games • DT Stephen Johnson: 0 games

auburnwire.usatoday.com Auburn vs. LSU: Prediction, point spread, odds, best bet JD McCarthy 3–4 minutes The Auburn Tigers are set to return to action Saturday night in what should be a thrilling game against the LSU Tigers, and if you’re looking to do some last-minute betting research, you’re in luck! We’ll give you the latest point spread, money line odds, and over/under number, as well as the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet at BetMGM. Auburn (3-2, 0-2 SEC) will be well rested after enjoying their bye last week and looking to snap a two-game losing streak and pick up their first SEC win of the season. It will be a tough matchup as LSU has one of the best offenses in the country led by star quarterback Jayden Daniels. Buy Tigers Tickets LSU (4-2, 3-1) is averaging 44.8 points per game and 7.81 yards per play thanks to the play of Daniels and wide receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., who are both averaging over 100 yards receiving per game. The good news for Auburn is that the LSU defense is one of the worst in the conference and could be what Auburn needs to get the offense going. Even with their poor defense, BetMGM has the Bayou Bengals as 11.5-point favorites over Auburn. Here is everything you need to know before you place any bets on the game. The lines, courtesy of BetMGM Auburn Point spread: +11.5 (-110) LSU Point spread: -11.5 (-110) Over/Under: 47.5 (-110) Click here to place your bets at BetMGM. Auburn WR Ja’Varrius Johnson Hamstring Questionable RB Damari Alston Shoulder Questionable DB Keionte Scott Ankle OUT LB Austin Keys Thumb OUT DL Mosiah Nasili-Kite Bicep Out for Season LSU WR Aaron Anderson Questionable Hamstring WR Chris Hilton Jr. Questionable Undisclosed Auburn has struggled to win in Baton Rouge and I don’t see that changing this week. While LSU’s defense is susceptible, Auburn does not have the passing attack to take advantage and I’m expecting Jayden Daniels to have a big game and for LSU to pull away in the second half. Prediction: LSU 45, Auburn 30

247sports.com Gonzalez back throwing as Auburn baseball opens fall practice Jason Caldwell 4–5 minutes A day for watching TV football Looking forward to watching 12 hours of college football today without having to write about any of them. Alabama at Texas A&M, Georgia at Kentucky and LSU at Missouri should be fun. And, of course, there is the Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma. I picked Alabama, Georgia, LSU and Texas to win those games, but all of them could easily go the other way. Thorne makes progress As Auburn goes back to work on preparation for LSU, it is clear that coaches feel better about quarterback Payton Thorne than maybe they did a couple of weeks ago. They believe he was much more consistent in going where he needed to go with the ball and would have had much better numbers if catchable balls had been caught. It’s also important to remember that Thorne has Auburn’s two longest runs from scrimmage this season. "I do think we're moving in the right direction,” Freeze said Thursday on Tiger Talk, “and we're getting better." What I expected and what I didn’t Nothing that follows should be construed as second-guessing or anything other than what I expected before the season and what I have seen. Coaches don’t tell me how to write stories, and I don’t tell them how to do their jobs. Things I expected to see more of: --More uptempo offense. --More passes thrown in the middle of the field. --More deep 50-50 balls for tight end Rivaldo Fairweather. Things I didn’t expect: --How well Auburn has run the ball. --How well Auburn has stopped the run. --The performances of defensive tackle Marcus Harris and linebacker Eugene Asante. --Jaylin Simpson’s emergence as one of the top safeties in the SEC. I knew he was good, but he’s been even better. Hard times don’t last For fans of programs accustomed to winning, going through difficult times can be extremely challenging. Patience is hard to find. It is wise to remember everyone goes through those times. Auburn and Florida are trying now to overcome some bad times. After Alabama won the national championship in 1992, it went 17 years without an SEC championship and had three losing seasons. Tennessee experienced hard times for the better part of two decades. LSU won the national championship in 2019 and had back-to-back non-winning seasons. Speaking of LSU, before Nick Saban arrived in 2007, it had losing records in seven of 11 seasons. Eventually, things change. Football is extremely important for teams mentioned above. Sooner or later, their time always comes. Really bad football Maybe you have seen bad football, but Nebraska’s 20-7 win over Nebraska on Friday night was in a league of it’s own. Here’s how the second half went, possession by possession: --Nebraska punts. --Illinois fumbles. --Nebraska kicks a field goal, the highlight of the second half. --Illinois punts. --Nebraska misses a field goal try. --Illinois turns ball over on downs. --Nebraska fumbles. --Illinois punts. --Nebraska throws an interception. --Illinois throws an interception. --Nebraska fumbles. An impressive statistic Georgia has won 22 straight games and two straight national championships. But here’s another amazing statistics: The Bulldogs have won 33 consecutive regular-season games. Their last regular-season loss was 44-28 to Florida on Nov. 7, 2020. Yes, doing that is easier in the SEC East than it would be in the West, but it is impressive, nonetheless. Ted Roof’s defense has been dominant Oklahoma has one of the top defenses in college football so far, giving up just more than 10 points a game. The coordinator is Ted Roof, Auburn’s defensive coordinator from 2009-2011. It’s easy to be happy for him. He’s one of the really good people I have come across in college football. He will, of course, face his toughest challenge of the season today against Texas. My ranking of SEC teams This will probably change before the day is over, but here is how I would rank SEC teams. Some will believe I have Missouri and Kentucky too high, and I probably do. But they deserve credit for being undefeated. They are both underdogs today. 1-Georgia 2-Alabama 3-Missouri 4-Texas A&M 5-Kentucky 6-Ole Miss 7-Tennessee 8-LSU 9-Auburn 10-Florida 11-Arkansas 12-South Carolina 13-Mississippi State 14-Vanderbilt

247sports.com Infield newcomers look to make their mark this fall for Auburn baseball Jason Caldwell 4–5 minutes AUBURN, Alabama—With depth and talent returning on the mound along with position players such as Bobby Peirce, Cooper McMurray, Chris Stanfield, Ike Irish and others, the Auburn baseball Tigers have some strong pieces to build around for the 2024 season, but have some huge holes to fill because of the losses of shortstop Cole Foster, third baseman Bryson Ware and catcher Nate LaRue. Beginning fall practices on Monday with the first fall intrasquad scrimmage coming up on Thursday, coach Butch Thompson said the biggest issue for this team is going to be finding the three replacements for those three spots. “The biggest challenge for us, it looks like and things will probably change once we start playing, but Cole Foster, Bryson Ware and Nate LaRue,” Thompson said. “It’s the left side of the infield and finding which catcher or two catchers, who is really going to catch these guys and create a good pitching staff. “We’re bullish on the mound thinking there’s enough pieces. Hopefully we can keep developing. The team is made in the fall. You really hope you can get some things worked out.” The good news for Thompson and his coaching staff is that there are some quality options at all three positions thanks to a combination of returning players, true freshmen, and transfers. On the infield, Auburn brought in four players that are all going to push for playing time, Thompson said. “You take a Derec Fabian and a Cooper Weiss, two veterans,” Thompson said. “Javon Hernandez makes it three veterans. Then you have an exciting player like Eric Guevara. I don’t want to pump him up too much, but he gives you that (Ryan) Bliss feel when he came on campus. It’s like ‘this guy might be ready to play for us now.’ He checks a lot of boxes and has really looked good. The players love him.” A grad transfer from Miami (Ohio) after starting his career at Coastal Carolina, Weiss is a 5-11, 201 senior that is coming off a huge year for the Redhawks a season ago when he batted .303 with 12 home runs and 15 doubles while also winning the MAC Defensive Player of the Year. He’ll battle for the starting shortstop job along with Fabian and others. The younger brother of former Florida standout Judd Fabian, Derec Fabian played the last two seasons with the Gators and had six home runs as a part-time starter. At 6-3, Fabian has a ton of power and also has the ability to play multiple positions. One of two Jacksonville State transfers on the Auburn roster, the 5-7 Hernandez is a powerful player that brings experience to the second base position for the Tigers. Transferring to JSU from UConn-Avery Point, Hernandez led the ASUN with a .397 average last season and had seven home runs, three triples and 49 runs batted in. He’ll battle at the position along with Fabian and returners Caden Green and Brody Moss. The fourth newcomer is Guevara. A native of Panama that played his high school baseball in Georgia, the true freshman is listed at a powerful 5-11, 204 and has shown the ability to play multiple spots as well this fall. His first opportunity may come at third base where he’s working with junior college transfer Kaleb Freeman. With McMurray out for the fall after having some cleanup work done on his knee, sophomore Gavin Miller is spending much of his time at first base along with UAB transfer Christian Hall. Behind the plate, Irish returns and is a full-time catcher this fall along with second-year player Carter Wright. Auburn also brought in high school catcher Cale Stricklin, who has been impressive early in his first fall practices. Auburn will scrimmage on Thursday afternoon at Plainsman Park and again this weekend. They’ll scrimmage once more next week before heading to Tuscaloosa next Friday night to face Alabama in a fall scrimmage game.

auburnwire.usatoday.com Auburn continues pursuit of Florida's top 2024 commit Taylor Jones ~2 minutes Auburn is looking to beef up its pass rush with its 2024 recruiting class, and Florida‘s top commit could fit the need. Four-star EDGE Jamonta Waller has been a Florida pledge since June, but that has not stopped Auburn from continuing its pursuit. On3’s Jeffrey Lee joined a recent episode of The Inside Scoop with host Josh Newburg, where he shared his take on the strength of Waller’s commitment to Billy Napier and the Gators and how much of a chance Auburn has at flipping him. Buy Tigers Tickets “You’d like to believe — if you’re an Auburn fan — the trajectory of the program is up. You saw that Saturday against Georgia,” Lee said. “You look down South and you see Florida struggling, you’ve got to think that weighs somewhat in the recruitment of these guys. The need on defense and Auburn’s success on defense with the guys that they have is something Jamonta’s certainly noticing.” Despite being a Florida pledge, Waller was on campus for Auburn’s game against No. 1 Georgia on Sept. 30. He, along with Alabama commits Caleb Odom and Ryan Williams, were among several outside commits to visit during the weekend. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

sports.yahoo.com Auburn battling Miami for the signature of four-star wide receiver Ny Carr Taylor Jones ~2 minutes Since his de-commitment from Georgia, four-star wide receiver Ny Carr has been high on Hugh Freeze’s radar. Auburn felt great about their chances at landing his signature. He was one of many talented names that flocked to campus for Big Cat Weekend in July and paid a visit to campus for Auburn’s game against No. 1 Georgia last weekend. He tells Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports that the Tigers are heading in a positive direction. “Wasn’t a bad game for them going up against the reigning champions,” Carr said. “They lost by a touchdown and extra point. That’s good for them. It was a great game. Tough match up for them when all the pieces are not filled.” How much of a chance does Auburn have at landing Carr? According to projections from 247Sports and On3, Auburn has plenty of ground to make up if they plan to beat out Georgia and Miami for his signature. On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine forecasts Miami with the best chance to earn Carr’s commitment at 90.9%. Next is Georgia, followed by Auburn, with programs having less than 5% odds. Wiltfong is the lone 247Sports expert to drop a crystal ball prediction, giving it to Miami. He revealed the projection on Wednesday with a confidence level of 6. Carr is a four-star rated wide receiver from Colquitt County High School in Moultrie, Georgia. He is the No. 9 player from the state of Georgia for the 2024 class and is the No. 11 wide receiver according to 247Sports. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__ Story originally appeared on Auburn Wire

auburnwire.usatoday.com Auburn is an early leader for elite 2025 OL Cortez Smith JD McCarthy 1–2 minutes Cortez Smith is one of the top offensive linemen in the 2025 recruiting cycle and the Lilburn, Georgia product is a major target for Hugh Freeze and Auburn. He was able to take his first visit to the Plains to watch Auburn take on the Georgia Bulldogs and it could not have gone better. Buy Tigers Tickets “It was great. Every single thing since I got here was great, atmosphere was big,” Smith told Auburn Undercover’s Christian Clemente. In fact, it went so well that he revealed that Auburn is currently one of the leaders in his recruitment. They are joined by Georgia, Miami, Tennessee and South Carolina in his top group. Smith is the No. 93 overall player and No. 3 interior offensive lineman in the 247Sports composite ranking. He is also the No. 15 player from Georgia. Auburn has an advantage over the rest of his leaders, he is teammates with Auburn cornerback commit Jalyn Crawford. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow JD on Twitter @jdmccarthy15

si.com Jayson Jones: 'The freshman, he's going to have to step up' Zac Blackerby ~2 minutes Auburn will need more from some of the younger defensive linemen. Earlier this week, reports surfaced that Auburn would be without Mosiah Nasili-Kite for the remainder of the season. Nasili-Kite played 176 snaps so far this year along the defensive front. He was a big part of the starting rotation for the Tigers during this first five games. Auburn defensive lineman Jayson Jones reacted to the news. "I know for me it's kind of sad because I miss having him around, personally," Jones said. "He's a great guy and I've never had any complaints about him. But it just means that people have to step up." Eyes will now turn primarily to the five-star freshman Keldric Faulk. "Keldric Faulk, the freshman, he's going to have to step up," Jones said. "Zykevious Walker, he's going to have to get more snaps. We're going to have to move some stuff around. I don't know where but we're going to have to move some stuff around because the most important thing in this league is depth. If you don't have depth, then you don't have fresh players, and if you don't have fresh players, then you can't put the best out there." Faulk has played 92 snaps so far this season. He played a season-high 26 against Samford and a season-low 16 against Georgia. Walker has been on the field for 54 snaps this season. He played a season-high 15 against UMass and a season-low seven against Cal.

saturdaydownsouth.com Hugh Freeze says play of Payton Thorne is moving in right direction Sydney Hunte | 1 day ago ~3 minutes Hugh Freeze was behind the mic for his weekly “Tiger Talk” show with Auburn in an open week following a 27-20 loss to Georgia. One of the areas of discussion centered around the play of Payton Thorne at quarterback. The former Michigan State signal-caller threw for just 82 yards against the Bulldogs, but made some plays with his feet as he finished with 92 yards on the ground. While were some moments during the game that Freeze noted should have resulted in more positive plays for Thorne, the Aubrun head coach is optimistic moving forward. “I do think we’re moving in the right direction, and we’re getting better,” he said on Thursday. Auburn has lost its last 2 games after a 3-0 start and will next take the field on Oct. 14 as it travels to LSU. Freeze mentioned that his players were off for the upcoming weekend, but that they did “individual work” geared more toward defense during the week. “You want to get as healthy as you can, but you have to get work in,” he said, adding that the team must improve their pass rush. TRENDING