The Opening Drive: Auburn vs. Alabama A&M

AUBURN, Ala. – When the 2023 season ended, that chapter of Auburn football ended with it. It was time to start a new chapter. It was time to write a new book altogether. From spring practice to summer workouts to fall camp, the returning players and the newcomers alike have been writing that story, one page at a time. 

On Saturday, fans will get their first look when the Tigers open the 2024 season against Alabama A&M in a sold-out Jordan-Hare Stadium for Kickoff on the Plains. 

“We’ve been writing some of this book, and now people get to start reading it Saturday,” head coach Hugh Freeze told his team this week. “We’ll see if they like the book or not. It’s exciting.”

Freeze, who is entering his second year as head coach, doesn’t know what to expect from this year’s team. He admitted as much in his Monday press conference, saying it could take two or three games before the Tigers find their identity. But there’s a sense of confidence that might not have been there a year ago. 

“I wasn’t real confident at this point last year that we had all the pieces together to be competitive in every single game,” Freeze said on Tiger Talk. “We ended up being competitive in a lot of good games, and we were not so good in some games. This year, I have no idea what the win-loss record will be or any of that, but I do know we’re better. Our roster is better. Our culture is better. Our chemistry is better. And it makes you feel better.”

“It's different than last year for sure,” added quarterback Payton Thorne said. “We don’t talk about last year much anymore. It’s in the past. That’s done and over. Comparing it to years prior, I’ve felt this excitement before. You kind of look around, and you feel the energy in the building, you feel the confidence that the guys have right now and that our coaches have. It’s encouraging.”

Confidence is one thing. Now it’s time to prove it. If the Tigers are better than they were last year, they have to prove it each and every Saturday, beginning with Alabama A&M in week one.

This year’s season opener will kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT from Jordan-Hare Stadium and will be televised on ESPN+/SEC Network+ with Lowell Galindo and Fozzy Whittaker 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. 

For the first game of 2024, fans are encouraged to wear orange to the game. 

THREE QUESTIONS WITH DB KEIONTE SCOTT

Q: It’s game week. What’s the mindset going into the first game? 

A: All the time going against the offense and building that chemistry within the team – now it’s time to perform and let all the work show that we put in thus far. I’m very excited for it now that it’s here. It’s my last season, so I’m definitely looking forward to soaking it all up and taking it all in. 

Q: Has it hit you yet that this could be your last season and what that means?

A: It’s a surreal thing to think about. Being a kid that had big dreams and finally being in a position where those dreams could come true – it’s something that every time I try to put my mind on it, I just try to focus on taking things day by day. I’m excited about what’s to come, but I’m just focusing on taking everything day by day. 

Q: What’s the biggest difference from where you were this time last year? 

A: I would just say the confidence. The confidence is very high for myself and for this team, and it’s very contagious. Guys are very excited to go out and perform, and we all feel the same way about how we want the season to go. We’ve got an understanding on how we want things to go, and we’re working every day to make sure that’s the case. 

INSIDE THE SERIES: ALABAMA A&M

Auburn leads Alabama A&M 2-0 all-time. The Tigers defeated the Bulldogs 51-7 in 2012 and 55-0 in 2016. Both games were played at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Saturday’s game marks the first time second-year Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze has faced Alabama A&M in his 14-year head
coaching career.

The Tigers are 4-0 all-time against current SWAC members with a 2-0 record against both Alabama A&M and Alabama State. 

Auburn holds an all-time football record of 99-55-2 against teams from the state of Alabama, including Alabama, UAB, Alabama State, Alabama A&M, Birmingham Southern, Camp Sheridan, Marion Institute, Maxwell Field, Montgomery, North Alabama A.C., Samford and Spring Hill.

BY THE NUMBERS

91: The Tigers return 91 percent of their rushing yardage from a season ago, and with running back Jarquez Hunter (909 yards) and quarterback Payton Thorne (515 yards) returning, Auburn joins Georgia Tech and Liberty as the only three FBS programs that return a running back who rushed for 900 yards and a quarterback who rushed for 500 yards last season. 

100: Heading into the 2024 season, five Auburn players have amassed 100 or more tackles in their career. Eugene Asante (149) and Jalen McLeod (126) both hit the mark last year while playing for Auburn. The Tigers also added transfers Dorian Mausi Jr. (193 at Duke), Jerrin Thompson (176 at Texas) and Fa’Najae Gotay (133 at Maryland). 

5: Kickoff on the Plains will be the first of five straight home games to start the 2024 season. It’s the first time in two years, and just the fifth time ever, the Tigers open the season with five straight home games (1982, 2005, 2016, 2022 and 2024). 

.786: With last year’s 59-14 win over UMass, Auburn moved to 102-27-2 (.786) all-time in season openers. The Tigers have won 16 of their past 18 openers dating back to the 2006 season, including seven straight.