In the first-ever meeting with South Alabama, then-No. 24 Auburn handled business with a 31-15 win on Homecoming Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Auburn seized the lead on the first drive of the game and never gave it back as it totaled 337 yards of offense. The Tigers’ defense put together a rather lackluster performance as the Jaguars totaled 310 yards of offense and continued to exploit the back end of Auburn’s defense.
Nonetheless, a win is a win, and Auburn improved to 3-0 on the season with a trip to take on No. 11 Oklahoma on the horizon.
Here are some stats and tidbits from the Tigers’ win:
Miscellaneous
– Auburn improved to 3-0 for the 52nd time in program history and the second time in three seasons under Hugh Freeze.
– South Alabama is the 143rd different opponent Auburn has played all-time
– Auburn has won its last 34 Homecoming games, improving to 87-8-4 all-time.
– Auburn played in front of the 17th straight sellout crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium, tying a record set in the 2013-16 seasons.
– The Jaguars are the 12th different in-state non-conference opponent Auburn has played in program history. The Tigers have compiled a 64-4-1 record against the group after Saturday’s win.
– Auburn has scored in a school-record 157 consecutive games, dating back to the first game of 2013
– The Tigers wore their “stormtrooper” white uniforms at home for the first time since 2008 in win against UT Martin
– Auburn has scored 30+ points in each of its first three games of the season (38 at Baylor, 42 vs. Ball State, 31 vs. South Alabama) for the first time since 2009 (37 vs. Louisiana Tech, 49 vs. Mississippi State, 41 vs. West Virginia)
– Through three games this season, Auburn has recorded 10 rushing touchdowns, just three away from last season’s total.
Game Specifics
– Jackson Arnold’s two rushing touchdowns on the day put him at four for the season, one more than he recorded all of last season.
– Arnold is the first Auburn quarterback with four or more rushing touchdowns in a season since Robby Ashford totaled five in 2023
– Eric Singleton Jr. has now caught a pass in every game of his collegiate career (27). His 65 yards on six catches were both season highs.
– Auburn’s 8:34 scoring drive in the third quarter was the longest by time since 2008 (9:54 at West Virginia). The drive was tied for the eighth-longest drive (scoring or non-scoring) in Auburn history
– Cam Coleman’s 32-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter was his first of the season and ninth in his career. He has caught a pass in nine consecutive games.
– Keyron Crawford’s interception in the first quarter was the first of his career and the first interception for Auburn this season.
– Freshman Jared Smith recorded his second sack of the season in the fourth quarter, forcing a fumble on the play for the first time in his career. Xavier Atkins recovered it for his first fumble recovery of his career.
– Kaleb Harris and Raion Strader set season highs with eight and four tackles, respectively. tackles, respectively. Eric Winters and Robert Woodyard Jr. set career highs with five tackles apiece.
– Alex McPherson’s 34-yard field goal in the third quarter was the 22nd of his career, making him 22-for-24 in his career. It was the longest field goal he has made since the 2023 season.