For the first time in October, the Auburn Tigers came out of a football game victorious.
After an 89-yard interception, thrown by quarterback Jackson Arnold, gave way to a 21-10 Arkansas lead heading into halftime, Auburn seemed well on its way to yet another excruciating loss.
But the Tigers’ defensive heroics shone bright in the final stanza, turning the Razorbacks over on their final four drives – one ending in a 49-yard pick-six from Rayshawn Pleasant.
Auburn capitalized on five of its six trips to the red zone. However, only one of those ended in a touchdown, with Alex McPherson pouring in a perfect 6-of-6 mark on his field goal attempts to lead the Tigers to their first SEC win of the season.
With that, here are some stats and tidbits from the Tigers’ win:
Miscellaneous
– Auburn extended its all-time series lead over Arkansas, 21-13-1 with the win. The Tigers have now won 10 of the last 13 meetings against the Razorbacks, with the visitors winning the previous five.
– Auburn has scored in a school-record 162 consecutive games, dating back to the first game of 2013.
– Saturday’s contest marked Auburn’s fourth true road game of the season, including its third in SEC play. The Tigers are one of three SEC programs (Alabama, Texas) that played their fourth true road game and third conference road game in Week 9.
– Auburn has not allowed more than 24 points in any game this season, marking the first time to do so in the first eight games of a season since 2005.
– Auburn has allowed 673 rushing yards through eight games, good for the fewest in the first eight games of a season since 1988 (306).
– The Tigers have allowed 472 rushing yards through five SEC games, which is the fewest since 2005 (471.
– Auburn has held the opponent under 100 rushing yards in six of eight games this season, including four of five SEC games, and in 12 of 20 games under defensive coordinator DJ Durkin. It owns the 10th-best rushing defense in the nation.
– Twenty of Auburn’s 36 scoring drives this season have been drives of seven or more plays and 60 or more yards
– Auburn has held its opponents to 2,548 total yards through eight games, which is good for the fewest in the first eight games of a season since 2008 (2,520).
Game Specifics
– Auburn’s 33 points scored were the most in a regulation SEC game since scoring 48 points at Arkansas in 2023, and the second most in a regulation SEC game under head coach Hugh Freeze.
– The Tigers’ 11-point comeback win was the largest since overcoming a 13-0 deficit to win 24-19 at LSU in 2021.
– Auburn scored an opening drive touchdown for the third consecutive week. It marked the fourth one of the season.
– Ashton Daniels, who took over for Arnold in the second quarter, led five scoring drives.
– Jeremiah Cobb turned in a career-high performance with 153 yards on 28 touches. It was the fourth time this season he has surpassed the century mark, and the second straight week.
– Cobb is the first Auburn player with two consecutive 100-yard outings since Jarquez Hunter did so in 2023.
– Cobb’s 28 carries were the most in a regulation SEC game since Kerryon Johnson carried it 30 times against Alabama in 2017.
– Eric Singleton Jr. has recorded a catch in every game of his collegiate career, extending the streak to 32 consecutive games. His 48-yard reception on the last play of the third quarter was a season-long.
– Xavier Atkins tallied a career-high 13 tackles, marking the most by an Auburn player since Owen Pappoe turned in 16 tackles against Ole Miss in 2022.
– Atkins has led the team, or tied, in tackles in all five SEC games. He is averaging 9.8 tackles per conference game.
– Pleasant is the first Auburn player with two interceptions in a game since Daniel Thomas did so against Alabama State in 2018.
– Kensley Louidor-Faustin recorded the first interception of his career.
– Auburn’s quartet of turnovers forced in the fourth quarter marked the first time Auburn has done that in the final stanza since doing so against South Carolina in 2010.
– Alex McPherson was a perfect 6-for-6 on field goals in the game, marking the most field goals made in a game since Daniel Carlson also made six against LSU in 2016.
– McPherson connected on a season-long 43-yard kick in the third quarter and surpassed that season-long with a 47-yard field goal with 6:23 left in the game.
– Justin Jones’ blocked punt was the first in a SEC game since Caylin Newton did so against Mississippi State in 2021.
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