AUBURN, Ala. – There's been a different vibe around the football team this week. You saw it immediately after Saturday's comeback win over Texas A&M when the players were celebrating with the fans and celebrating with each other in the locker room.
Then during post-game interviews, the word momentum kept coming up again and again.
"I'm definitely a big believer in momentum," Auburn wide receiver Ryan Davis said. "I feel like momentum gives you confidence going forward and gives you a sense of hope. We still have a lot to play for. Just getting this win definitely gives us that going forward, and it just shows that this team is still playing for a lot and playing for this university and also playing for the guys that came before us."
"It's really big for us," added linebacker Deshaun Davis. "We know we've got a tough stretch ahead of us, but we've got some momentum now – the ball is rolling in the right direction."
On Sunday, when the players returned for practice, the celebrating was over, but there was a new confidence that wasn't there before. The swagger was back.
"I feel like whenever you're in a situation like that and you can find a way to win, it does give you a little bit of confidence moving forward," Auburn defensive lineman Dontavius Russell said. "I just think we're in a good spot moving forward after getting that win."
This was an Auburn team that looked down and out midway through the fourth quarter Saturday. But over the final five minutes, the defense delivered with multiple stops. The offense found its rhythm, orchestrating back-to-back touchdown drives. And even on special teams, there was a critical punt return by freshman Christian Tutt that helped set up the go-ahead score.
In all three phases, the Tigers stepped up when the game was on the line.
"Just to see everything come together literally right there in the fourth quarter to really set up a big comeback – that was huge for the team and huge for momentum for this week," Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham said earlier this week.
There's that word momentum again. It can be a funny thing. Auburn went without it for much of the second half Saturday, but then all the momentum swung back in its favor the last five minutes. It's not unlike this season that has seen its share of ups and downs along the way.
But if there was ever a time to gain momentum, this would be it. The Tigers travel to No. 5 Georgia on Saturday and then two weeks later, it's a trip to No. 1 Alabama to finish out the regular season.
"November is going to be November for Auburn," Davis said. "It's the Amen Corner. When we come here, we know what we're signing up for. We're up for the challenge."
The challenge is daunting for sure. But following that win over Texas A&M, the coaches and players don't view this final stretch as some impossible feat that they can't overcome. No, just like last year, they view it as an opportunity. Now it's time to seize the opportunity.
op·por·tu·ni·ty
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) November 8, 2018
A set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something. #WarEagle pic.twitter.com/tyEMwSBbP5
Greg Ostendorf is a Senior Writer for AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @greg_ostendorf