It was a weekend of turmoil on the Plains after Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze was fired following the Tigers’ 10-3 loss to Kentucky.
DJ Durkin is set to take over for the remainder of the season in lieu of Freeze.
Before Freeze was shown the door, though, Auburn fans endured one of the worst losses in recent memory. Auburn’s offense was stagnant once again, and the Tigers scored just three points against a 2-5 Kentucky team that was winless in the conference.
The Tigers’ defense continued to make its case as one of the best units in the nation, but it wasn’t enough.
Here are a few stats and tidbits from the Tigers’ loss:
Miscellaneous
– Freeze was fired with a 15-19 overall record during his tenure. He was 6-16 in the SEC. The Tigers were 4-18 against Power Four opponents dating back to the 2023 season.
– Additionally, Freeze was the third coach in program history to post a losing record in Jordan-Hare Stadium (9-11).
– Auburn fell to 1-5 in SEC play this season, ensuring the Tigers would have a third straight conference record below .500.
– Auburn had not lost to Kentucky since 2009. It had won 19 of the last 20 meetings, dating back to 1967.
– Brandon Frazier and Zykeivous Walker played in their 53rd career games at Auburn, tying them for ninth in Auburn history with Andrew Williams (2015-18), Daniel Carlson (2014-17), Derrick Brown (2016-19), Dontavius Russel (2015-18) and Shedrick Jackson (2018-22)
– Auburn has five linemen on either side of the ball who have started in 21 or more straight games: Xavier Chaplin (34), Dillon Wade (31), Keldric Faulk (29), Mason Murphy (21) and Jeremiah Wright (21)
– The Tigers’ defense has not allowed more than 24 points in any game this season, one of three teams in the country to accomplish that feat (Ohio State, Indiana)
– Auburn has held its opponent under 100 rushing yards in seven of nine games this season, including five of six SEC games, and in 13 of 21 games under defensive coordinator DJ Durkin
– The Tigers have given up 752 rushing yards through nine games. That marks the fifth-fewest through nine games in Auburn records; it’s the fewest since allowing 613 through nine games in 1988
– Auburn has allowed 551 rushing yards through six conference games. That marks the fewest since 2001
– Saturday marked the 20th consecutive sellout of Jordan-Hare Stadium, dating back to the beginning of the 2023 season. That is a program record.
Game Specifics: Offense
– Auburn held Kentucky to 98 yards in the first half, marking the third time this season Auburn has held an opponent to under 100 yards in the first half (Ball State – 34; Georgia – 78)
– The Tigers have now held their opponents under their season scoring average in all nine games this season. Kentucky entered the game averaging 24.1 points per game and finished with 10.
– Eric Singleton Jr. has recorded a catch in every game of his collegiate career, extending his streak to 33 games. He has posted multiple receptions in 32 games.
– Ashton Daniels is the first senior quarterback to start at Auburn for the first time since Daniel Cobb versus Louisiana Tech in 2001
– Jeremiah Cobb moved to 44th on Auburn’s all-time rushing list. He has 1,103 career yards at Auburn and 789 this season.
Game Specifics: Defense
– Cam Coleman is 30th on Auburn’s all-time receiving list. He has 1,072 career yards.
– Xavier Atkins has led the team or tied for the team lead in tackles in all six SEC games, totaling 57 tackles in six league games (9.5 tackles per game)
– Atkins recorded his 14th tackle for loss of the season, the second most TFLs in a season by any underclassman defender, passing Corey Lemonier (13.5, 2011) and Nick Coe (13.5, 2018)
– Atkins is now tied with Reggie Torbor (2003) and Tracy Rocker (1988) for the sixth most TFL in a single season
– Elijah Melendez recorded the first interception of his career in the second quarter. It gave way to Auburn’s only points on the night
– AnQuon Fegans’ fourth-quarter interception was the first of his career
– Keldric Faulk finished with a season-high five tackles. He notched his fifth TFL of the season. He has 19.5 total in his career.
– Kensley Louidor-Faustin had his first career sack
– Alex McPherson now has 173 career points kicking, which ties for 10th all-time at Auburn. He is 13-of-16 for the season and 33-of-38 for his career.
– Hudson Kaak’s 55-yard punt in the second quarter was a career-long
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