No. 24 Auburn Tigers Face South Alabama Jaguars in Homecoming Showdown
The Auburn Tigers (2-0), ranked No. 24, will host the South Alabama Jaguars (1-1) for their Homecoming game at Jordan-Hare Stadium this Saturday. This game will mark Auburn's 17th consecutive sellout, tying a program record, with 88,043 fans expected to attend.
Hugh Freeze Previews the Matchup
Auburn coach Hugh Freeze emphasizes the importance of their home-field advantage. "It is a really good home-field advantage, and we’re going to need that moving forward, starting this Saturday," Freeze said. He also acknowledged the difficulty of playing at Jordan-Hare Stadium due to the supportive fan base.
Offensive Strategies and Key Players
After a run-heavy approach in their opening win at Baylor, the Tigers showcased their passing game against Ball State. Quarterback Jackson Arnold completed 24 of 28 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns. Freeze anticipates needing a balanced offensive approach against South Alabama to control the game and limit the Jaguars' offensive opportunities.
South Alabama's offense is coordinated by Paul Petrino, with Bishop Davenport at quarterback, who boasts a 76.3 percent completion rate through the first two games. Freeze acknowledged Petrino's skills and the challenges posed by the Jaguars' offensive scheme.
Familiar Faces on the South Alabama Sideline
The game features several connections between the two programs. Former Auburn standout Tre’ Williams serves as South Alabama's special teams coordinator and linebackers coach. Additionally, South Alabama quarterbacks coach Zach Crisler was an analyst at Auburn during Freeze's first two seasons.
Game Details and Broadcast Information
The game kicks off at 11:45 a.m. CT on SEC Network with Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb, and Alyssa Lang as the broadcast team. The Auburn Sports Network will feature Andy Burcham on play-by-play, Jason Campbell providing analysis, and Bret Eddins making his debut as sideline reporter.
