The Opening Drive: Auburn vs. No. 15 Texas A&M

AUBURN, Ala. – There’s something different about playing under the lights in Jordan-Hare Stadium. You can throw out the records. You can throw out the rankings. It takes one of college football’s most intimidating home environments and raises it to another level. 

On Saturday, Jordan-Hare Stadium will once again be rocking at night as Auburn hosts No. 15 Texas A&M for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff. It’s the first SEC night game at home for the Tigers this season. 

“It’s going to be an electrifying crowd,” senior edge Jalen McLeod said. “They know it’s win or go home for us. And we want to be spoilers. (Texas A&M) is playing for the 12-man playoff. We want to spoil that. The crowd knows that. We know that. We’re both going to bring energy. It’s going to be electrifying.”

“It's an extremely special atmosphere,” added quarterback Payton Thorne. “A special place with an amazing fan base and a lot of great people here. It’s a very passionate fan base, which is awesome. It’s a place where it doesn’t really matter who you’re playing, it’s going to be packed out and it’s going to be a great environment. I’m thankful to have played in front of these home fans and looking forward to this last one.” 

For McLeod, Thorne and the other 27 seniors on the team, it will likely be their last time playing in Jordan-Hare Stadium. The group will be honored before the game as a part of Senior Day. 

“We get to honor a bunch of seniors who have put a lot into this program,” head coach Hugh Freeze said. “Obviously in this new transfer world, some have spent more time here than others. Some guys have spent all their time here. We want to honor them, and I know our fans will. It will be sad and sentimental for some of them to play their last game because Auburn means something to those guys, and it should. Hopefully we can send them out in a way that they will remember it well.”

The stakes remain high as well. Not only can Auburn play spoiler to Texas A&M, but with two wins in the final two games of the regular season, the Tigers can become bowl eligible and earn another opportunity to play. 

Saturday’s game will kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT and will be televised on ESPN with Dave Flemming, Louis Riddick and Kris Budden 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 this week’s home finale, fans are encouraged to wear navy.

THREE QUESTIONS WITH WR KEANDRE LAMBERT-SMITH

Q: What do you think it meant for Cam Coleman to have a breakout game last week? 

A: It meant everything for his confidence, especially the one-handed catch. I’m sure it’s a great feeling. I haven’t had a catch like that in a game so I wouldn’t really know, but I’ve seen Cam make that catch quite a few times since I’ve been here already. I kind of knew what type of player he was. I feel like everybody kind of knows that. It’s just a matter of time before he continues to put that on display. 

Q: What do you want to accomplish these next two games? What are your goals? 

A: Honestly, get the win. And do whatever I’ve got to do. Whether that’s 10 catches – which I would love – for however many yards. I know I also have a chance to get 1,000 yards. Not saying that’s really on my mind, but it would be great. There was a lot of talk about being the first Auburn receiver to do that in however many years. It would be great to accomplish that and end my career like that, but ultimately, I want to do whatever I can to help us win. 

Q: It’s Senior Day this week. What will you remember from your last year here at Auburn? 

A: Overcoming adversity. I had a lot of good memories – winning at Kentucky, seeing the fans there, hopping in the crowd. I don’t think I ever did that in college. I made memories. I made some friends that taught me a lot. The freshmen, just being that leader for them, it taught me a lot and gave me perspective. I feel like everything happens for a reason. I’m definitely grateful for it. 

INSIDE THE SERIES: TEXAS A&M

Texas A&M leads the all-time series with Auburn by an 8-6 margin. The teams first met in Dallas in 1911, a 16-0 Texas A&M victory, and played again in Dallas at the end of the 1985 season when the two schools met in the 1986 Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day (Texas A&M won 36-16).

Prior to Auburn’s 28-24 win at Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2018, the visiting team had won every matchup since Texas A&M joined the SEC in 2012. Auburn won the last meeting at Auburn by a 13-10 score in 2022. The Aggies were 27-10 winners last season in College Station.

BY THE NUMBERS

100: Against ULM, Jarquez Hunter (102 rushing), KeAndre Lambert-Smith (104 receiving) and Cam Coleman (100 receiving) are the first Auburn players to post a 100-yard rushing and two 100-yard receiving games since 1994 vs. Florida: Stephen Davis (113 rushing), Thomas Bailey (117 receiving) and Andy Fuller (115 receiving). 

3: With three touchdown catches in Saturday’s win over ULM, Cam Coleman became the first Auburn player with three touchdown catches in a game since Darius Slayton had three against Purdue in the 2018 Music City Bowl. It was Coleman’s first 100-yard receiving game and only the seventh ever by an Auburn freshman. 

104.5: Auburn’s defense is allowing 104.5 rushing yards per game, ranked No. 12 nationally. The Tigers have held each of their last four opponents under 100 yards: ULM (64), Vanderbilt (84), Kentucky (70), Missouri (81). It’s the firs time since 2005-06 Auburn held three straight SEC opponents below 100 rushing yards. 

0: Auburn had zero penalties in the ULM game. It’s the first time that’s happened since at least 1996. The Tigers currently lead the SEC in fewest penalties per game (5.40) and are one of eight FBS teams to play a penalty-free game this season.