AUBURN, Ala. – A Big Ten opponent comes to the Plains for the first time Saturday with Auburn determined to show Southern hospitality and SEC physicality to No. 22 Penn State.
Next Game:
Penn State
Sept. 17, 2022
2:30 p.m. CT
TV: CBS
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
"They look good," Auburn coach Bryan Harsin said, scouting the Nittany Lions. "Fast, physical, well-coached."
Last year at Beaver Stadium, Penn State beat the Tigers 28-20 in front of the largest crowd ever to witness an Auburn game, 109,958, most of them clad in white shirts or jerseys.
"It was a great environment," senior edge linebacker Derick Hall said. "Penn State believes it has one of the best environments in college football, but we have the best here at Auburn.
"I'm ready for Auburn fans to jump back on that in this orange-out game and have it just as loud or louder than it was there."
The opportunity to earn a victory in the regular season's only SEC-Big Ten matchup appeals to the Tigers.
"Watching them celebrate in that environment really hurt us last year," senior tight end John Samuel Shenker said. "Everyone needs to buy in to this week. This will get us off to a great start heading into conference play."
"I'm excited for this opportunity, excited to be here with this team. I'm just ready to play," Hall said. "If we win this game, it would be a big confidence boost for us rolling into SEC play."
Auburn (2-0) and Penn State (2-0) kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium on CBS and the Auburn Sports Network.
"It's a statement game for us to show that we need to be recognized as one of the top teams in the country," senior linebacker Owen Pappoe said. "I'm looking forward to it but I'm not trying to treat it like the Super Bowl. I'm definitely looking forward to going out there and executing at the highest level."
Three questions with K Anders Carlson
Q: You and Daniel are now 1-2 in Auburn career scoring. How big of a deal is that?
A: I saw the post. I don't try to pay attention to that stuff, but I did see it. It was pretty awesome to see our names up there. It's something special because it's something that's been a lot of work and a lot of time. We've been here awhile. But it's not going to change what I do. I haven't have made it to where I want to be.
Q: What did it mean to be elected as an honorary captain for this game?
A: It's a huge deal. I've got so much respect for our captains, the three right now, and just to be elected as a gameday captain by your peers is a huge deal. As a kicker, you don't come across a lot of people unless you really force yourself to do that. So, just to be respected among by peers I don't get to see that much is a pretty cool deal. I got to be a captain last year for LSU, another huge game. Hopefully we'll come out with the same result.
Q: You went to Penn State last year and saw that atmosphere. What is it about Auburn and Jordan-Hare Stadium that is so special?
A: I've played in a lot of big games. When you're at home and those fans are cheering for you, it's just so loud. When our defense is on the field, you know it's playing a huge role in the game. That's awesome to see. We've played in huge environments – Penn State, Florida – it's just fun to play in those game because you can feel the intensity. I know they'll show up this week no matter what, and it will be an exciting atmosphere.
Inside the Series: Penn State
Penn State leads the all-time series with Auburn 2-1. The Nittany Lions were 28-20 winners at Beaver Stadium last season; both other previous meetings came in bowl games. Penn State won the first matchup, a 43-14 victory in Tampa's Outback Bowl after the 1995 season. Auburn was a 13-9 winner in Orlando's Capital One Bowl following the 2002 campaign.
This will be Auburn's fourth regular season game against a Big Ten team after last season's visit to Penn State. The previous two came in 1931 (7-7 tie at Wisconsin) and in 1917 (0-0 tie with Ohio State in a game played in Montgomery). The Tigers played a home-and-home with Nebraska in 1981-82 and faced Maryland in 1952, 1958 and 1983 when those schools were members of other leagues.
The Tigers are 12-11-2 all-time against current members of the Big Ten, including games against Indiana, Rutgers, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin.
By the Numbers
12: Sophomore running back Jarquez Hunter leads the SEC in scoring at 12.0 points per game. Hunter scored three touchdowns in the season opener against Mercer and then added another score last Saturday in Auburn's 24-13 victory over San Jose State.
0: The Tigers have shut out their first two opponents in both the first and third quarters, outscoring them 14-0 in the first quarter and 24-0 in the third quarter. Auburn is one of eight teams in college football who has yet to allow a point in the first and third quarter this season (Georgia, Iowa, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Purdue, Toledo and Tulane).
364: Anders Carlson, a 2020 Lou Groza Award semifinalist, has moved into second place in Auburn career scoring with 364 points. With six points in Saturday's win, Carlson passed Wes Byrum (363 points from 2007-10) on the all-time list.
17: Auburn has won 17 straight home games against non-conference opponents in the regular season, a streak that dates back to the 2016 season. The Tigers hold a 259-70-6 (.782) regular season record all-time in non-conference play since 1933.