AUBURN, Ala. – When the No. 16 Auburn Tigers arrive in Dallas Friday afternoon, their first stop will be AT&T Stadium.
"Every stadium is different," senior offensive lineman Marquel Harrell said. "It's good to have a walk-through Friday because you get to go in there. This will be my first time going to Jerry World. From what I've heard it's amazing in there. To not get caught up in the big lights, I'd rather go in there Friday night and get the jitters out."
The Tigers kick off the 2019 season Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC against No. 11 Oregon in the AdvoCare Classic.
Auburn's seasoned secondary looks forward to the challenge of facing Oregon senior quarterback Justin Herbert, an NFL prospect.
"It's going to be interesting," senior safety Daniel Thomas said. "We've got to continue to study film, do our adjustments and study his checkdowns and where he likes to go to. We're looking forward to it. It's going to be a big challenge for us and our secondary."
Jeremiah Dinson
"Being a senior, you want these type of matchups," safety Jeremiah Dinson said. "Being at Auburn, you want these type of matchups. We know what we're going to face. He's an NFL caliber quarterback. I've been studying him since the summer. He can throw the ball. It's going to be a good challenge for us."
In 2016, Herbert became the first Oregon true freshman quarterback to start since 1983. Auburn's Bo Nix will see that milestone and raise Herbert one when Nix becomes the first Tigers' true freshman QB to start the season opener in 73 years.
Protected by an all-senior offensive line, Nix has asserted his leadership, especially since being named the starter last week.
"He really took control during camp," senior offensive lineman Jack Driscoll said. "For a freshman to come in mid-year, he was confident. We told him, 'You've got to be a leader. Despite what age you are, you're the quarterback, you've got to make sure we're all on the same page.'
"He really, especially in camp, stepped up his leadership. We're excited for him. He's a great athlete and he can make a lot of plays, make plays out of nothing. We're excited what he can bring for our offense."
The Oregon opener is the first of six Auburn games against top 15 opponents, a strength of schedule no one else in college football can match.
"I've played in all types of games against good football teams," Driscoll said. "It's good to have a season opener like this, somebody like Oregon, a really good team, to face them and see where our team is."
ESPN College GameDay. Network television. Prime Time. The home of the Cowboys. For Auburn fans and players, there's no better way to start the season.
"It's like a childhood dream to be able to play in an NFL stadium," Thomas said.
Daniel Thomas
"Games like this, games like Washington last year at the Falcons' stadium, are the reason you come to a place like Auburn," Driscoll said. "As a team, we're really excited. As an offensive line especially, we're excited for the challenge we have."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer