AUBURN, Ala. – It was late Saturday night when the final seconds ticked away at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The players had to wait out an 87-minute rain delay during the third quarter. But as the clock finally hit zero, that winning feeling returned to the Auburn sideline.
Next Game:
San Jose State
Sept. 10, 2021
6:30 p.m. CT
TV: ESPNU
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
The Tigers opened the season with a 42-16 victory over Mercer – their first win since October 30 – and they relished in that moment after the game.
"Just being able to come out and win, it meant a lot to us," senior captain Derick Hall said. "Everybody had that date in the back of their head. You can't take any opponent for granted. Respect all but you fear none. We're just taking it week by week and one game at a time."
"I think that's what the whole team was chasing – that (winning) feeling again," added Jaylin Simpson.
It might not have been the cleanest game. Auburn lost the turnover battle. There were areas to improve on with both the offense and defense. But the Tigers are 1-0 again.
"Since January, we've talked about team and just being 1-0," head coach Bryan Harsin said Monday. "That's the only message these guys have heard. 'Together everyone achieves more.' I didn't make it up. That's really what it comes down to.
"I thought we did some good things," he added. "It was good to see some new faces out there, and now we have a game to work with. Going into this week, knowing the things we have to get better at for each individual player and then what we have to do as an offense, defense, special teams and as a program to get better."
This week, the opponent changes. Auburn will host San Jose State in just the third meeting all-time in the series. But the goal stays the same: 1-0.
The game is scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT from Jordan-Hare Stadium and will be televised on ESPNU with Brian Custer, Dustin Fox and Lauren Sisler 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 and online at AuburnTigers.com.
Three questions with OL Brandon Council
Q: What did it mean to get back out there and play again?
A: It felt amazing. It felt good to be able to contribute for my team again. It's really about the unit, about the guys, about the team as a whole, and I just want to help the team be successful. And I just love football. Because of that, I try to come back and be better each year.
Q: Being back at Jordan-Hare Stadium with the fans, what was that like?
A: I never take it for granted. Every time I step on that field and hear the fans and see everybody in Tiger Walk, my heart just fills with joy. Those are moments I never want to end and moments I will never forget in my life. Auburn is different. There are not many places you'll go where the fans have undying love for you no matter what. They know more about you than you know about yourself. You just can't beat that.
Q: How would you assess the offensive line after week one?
A: For our first game, we played great together as an o-line. Our communication was a big key, and I think we did better on that than we did in the past. There are some things we still have to fix up front – ID'ing point a little better. Other than that, we're just going to go to the drawing board and get better each week. That's our goal. 1-0 each week.
Inside the Series: San Jose State
Auburn and San Jose State have met twice before with Auburn winning both contests. The Tigers earned a 59-13 victory in 2014 and then beat the Spartans again the following year 35-21. Both games were played at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Auburn holds a 5-0 all-time record against teams currently in the Mountain West Conference: Fresno State (1-0), San Jose' State (2-0), Utah State (1-0) and Wyoming (1-0). Head coach Bryan Harsin won three Mountain West championships and six division titles during his tenure as head coach at Boise State.
By the Numbers
10: With 147 yards rushing in Saturday's win over Mercer, Tank Bigsby now has 10 career 100-yard rushing games – tied for 12th-most all-time at Auburn. The junior also went over 2,000 career rushing yards. He ranks 18th in program history with 2,080 career yards.
5: Junior college transfer Keionte Scott, who finished tied for second on the team with five tackles against Mercer, became the first Auburn newcomer to record at least five tackles in a season opener since Owen Pappoe recorded five tackles against Oregon in 2019. Scott was one of 20 players who saw their first action in an Auburn uniform Saturday.
117: Junior Ja'Varrius Johnson led Auburn with 117 yards on four receptions in the season opener. It was Johnson's second career 100-yard receiving game, and his 117 receiving yards are the most by an Auburn player since Anthony Schwartz finished with 123 yards and a touchdown on four catches against LSU in 2020.
6: Auburn has held its opponents without a rushing touchdown in six straight games dating through the 2021 season. It's the longest such streak for the Tigers since not allowing a rushing score in eight straight games during the middle of the 2016 campaign.