AUBURUN, Ala. – How rare is it for Auburn to play a home game in December? It's only happened one other time: Dec. 2, 1989. On that day, the Tigers beat Alabama in the first Iron Bowl played on the Plains.
But this whole season has been unique. A 10-game SEC schedule. Back-to-back weeks off in November. A home game in December. For Auburn, though, Saturday's game against No. 5 Texas A&M represents an opportunity to bounce back from last week's Iron Bowl loss and pick up a signature victory at home.
Next Game:
Texas A&M
12/5/20
11 AM
TV: ESPN
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
"I think it's a positive," Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said. "We are all programmed when the Iron Bowl is over with, you're thinking about postseason. The unique thing this year is obviously we came off a tough loss, but we have a top-five team coming in. We have a chance to redeem ourselves."
Saturday is also senior day. For 16 seniors, it could be the last time they run out of the tunnel at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn has sent the last four senior classes out with a victory in their final home game, and this team wants to continue that trend for this year's senior class.
The Tigers have won 32 games over the last four years, in large part because of these seniors.
"This senior class – it's a bunch of special people, first of all," Malzahn said. "They've been here a long time and they're part of our family. It means a lot to send those guys out with a victory. We're pretty fortunate to be good on senior day. We need to do the same thing this game."
"They haven't said anything, but everybody knows it," added redshirt freshman Colby Wooden. "If you're a senior, you've got to go out with a bang. We're going to do everything we can to make sure those guys come out victorious."
Auburn and Texas A&M will kick off at 11 a.m. CT from Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN with Sean McDonough, Todd Blackledge, Allison Williams and Todd McShay on the call. You can also listen to Andy Burcham, Stan White and Ronnie Brown who will have the radio call on 93.9 Tiger FM, online at AuburnTigers.com and on the TuneIn app.
THREE QUESTIONS WITH … DL COLBY WOODEN
Q: How much better are you now than you were at the start of the season?
A: I feel like I'm a lot better. The game is coming more natural. It's coming easier. I know what I'm doing. I know what to look for. It's just great to have played early on in the year, so you know how to defend blocks, what to expect, what's coming, what to look for in film. I feel like I've just gotten better over the year.
Q: What's the biggest thing you've learned?
A: Just being physical and speed. You've got to be physical at the point of attack as well as coming off the ball fast. The faster you can get off the ball, the easier your job will be. But you also have to attack it with a physical mindset that this guy is not going to beat me, this guy is not going to whoop me. If you get that mindset, then you'll be fine.
Q: With it being senior day, what has Big Kat Bryant meant to you?
A: Kat has meant a lot. In my recruiting, he was one of the main factors that helped get me here. He's been like a big brother to me. He helped me in every aspect of the game – helped me with learning blocks, how to defend blocks, how to pass rush, what to look for. And off the field, you can't ask for a better guy. Every Monday, I'm at his house watching film, barbecuing, eating. He's just my big brother, and he's just meant a lot to me.
INSIDE THE SERIES: TEXAS A&M
The all-time series between Texas A&M and Auburn is tied 5-5. The teams first met in Dallas
in 1911, a 16-0 Texas A&M victory. They played again in Dallas in the 1986 Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day (a 36-16 Texas A&M win).
Gameday Program
Since the Aggies joined the SEC in 2012, Auburn has won five of the eight meetings. Prior to Auburn's 28-24 win in Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2018, the visiting team had won every matchup. The Tigers still have yet to lose in College Station with victories coming in 2013 (45-41), 2015 (26-10), 2017 (42-27) and last year in 2019 (29-20).
In 2018, the last time the two sides met in Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn wide receiver Seth Williams caught the go-ahead touchdown pass with 1:11 remaining to help secure a 28-24 victory. It was the second of two touchdown grabs on the day for Williams.
Series: Tied, 5-5
At Auburn: Texas A&M leads 3-1
At College Station: Auburn leads 4-0
At Neutral Sites: Texas A&M leads 2-0
First Meeting: 1911 (Texas A&M, 16-0)
Most AU points: 45 (2013)
Current Streak: Auburn, W3
BY THE NUMBERS
14: Auburn is one of only 14 teams nationally with both a fumble return and an interception return for scores this season. The scoop-and-score came from Christian Tutt who returned a fumble 20 yards for a touchdown against LSU while the interception return was courtesy of Smoke Monday who went end zone to end zone on his 100-yard return againstTennessee. It was the second pick-six of his career.
11: Running back Tank Bigsby and wide receiver Seth Williams have each accounted for 11 plays of 20 yards or more this season, which combined is more than half of Auburn's plays of 20+ yards (22-43) through the first eight games. Bigsby, a true freshman, ranks seventh in the SEC with 119.5 all-purpose yards per game.
1989: Auburn's only previous December home game was a 30-20 win over Alabama in 1989. It was a historic moment as it was the first time the Iron Bowl had been played in Jordan-Hare Stadium. The victory helped the Tigers earn a three-way split of the SEC title that year with Alabama and Tennessee.
FORD GAMEDAY HERO
Petty Officer 2nd Class Benjamin Renfro, US Navy
Petty Officer 2nd Class Benjamin Renfro enlisted in the United States Navy in July 2012 after graduating high school in San Antonio, Texas. Upon completing basic training, he served as a Torpedoman and was stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawai'i. Petty Officer Renfro served abord the USS Columbia and was deployed to the Western Pacific in support of the Global War on Terrorism in 2014 and was awarded the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal as well as the Navy Achievement Medal for superior service. Petty Officer Renfro was honorably discharged in July 2016 and is currently a Senior in the McWhorter College of Building Construction and Design at Auburn University where he will graduate in August 2021 with his degree in Building Science. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career in the commercial building construction industry, as well as spend time with his wife Morgan and dog Josie.