AUBURN, Ala. – Flush it. That was the message from Hugh Freeze to his team on Monday. Flush the LSU game as quickly as possible and move on to the next game because it doesn't get any easier for Auburn with No. 13 Ole Miss coming in Saturday.
Next Game:
vs. Ole Miss
Oct. 21, 2023
6 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
This will be Auburn's third consecutive opponent ranked in the Top 25.
"That's the SEC," Auburn cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett said. "We saw the schedule before the season started. I feel like we've been working all offseason, and I think we just have to put it all together. We need guys to get healthy. We just need to play our best ball."
The defense, in particular, will have to bounce back Saturday facing an Ole Miss offense that uses tempo and likes to go fast. Like LSU, the Rebels are near the top of the conference this season in points per game (41.7) and yards per game (489.3).
How's the Auburn defense approach facing an offense like that?
"Just tighten up," linebacker Wesley Steiner said. "Don't leave any stone unturned. Especially with a tempo team. They're going to motion and adjust. What are you playing on this motion? What are you playing on this adjustment? That's really all it is. Because tempo is just, 'Hey, the play is over, get back on the ball, get the call.'"
One thing playing into Auburn's favor will be the crowd noise and the environment Saturday night. Running tempo is always more difficult on the road. Running tempo in front of a sold-out crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium might be next to impossible.
"Advantage Auburn," Steiner said. "I don't need to say that Auburn is one of the best environments to play in. It's probably one of the hardest environments to play against if you're an opposing team. I don't think Ole Miss is going to be able to go light-speed tempo the way they want to with our crowd being a factor. I know the Auburn Family is going to do what they do and cause mayhem. We have the best fans in college football."
"I'm thankful that we're at home in Jordan-Hare," said Freeze who will be facing his former team in Ole Miss. "We need it to be at its all-time best, and I know it will be."
Auburn and Ole Miss will kick off at 6 p.m. CT from Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN with Joe Tessitore, Jesse Palmer and Katie George on the call. You can also listen to Andy Burcham, Jason Campbell, Ronnie Brown and Will Herring who will have the radio call on 94.3 FM, online at AuburnTigers.com and on the Auburn app.
For fans attending the game, it's going to be a Stripe Out. Click here for more details.
Three questions with K Alex McPherson
Q: What has been the biggest key for you in your first full season as the starter?
A: I think it's just trusting the process and just being me. This year I've really trusted myself and who I am. I don't think I've had to change as much just because I'm playing this year as opposed to not playing last year. That's helped me a lot in going out there and doing what I do. Knowing that I'm not playing for the people around you, I'm playing for one – that's God.
Q: With that said, is it surreal to be the kicker at Auburn and kicking in the SEC?
A: I try not to think about it in the moment, but sometimes I do sit back and realize I'm living my dream that I've always wanted to do. It's really surreal for me just to be able to put the uniform on and go out and run out in that stadium. As we're running out of the tunnel, that's when I really soak it all in as I look around the stadium and I just think about how I've dreamed of this moment and how it's actually here.
Q: How much of an advantage is it to be back in Jordan-Hare this week?
A: I think the night games in Jordan-Hare are such a big plus for Auburn. It's really hard to win whenever you play in Auburn at night. For us as a team, it really helps us mentally to know that we have the fans behind us and know that the crowd, no matter what, is going to be behind us the whole night – which is really exciting.
Inside the Series: Ole Miss
Auburn leads 35-12 in the all-time series against Ole Miss, dating back to 1928. Ole Miss was a 48-34 winner last season in Oxford, but prior to that, the Tigers had won six straight. Auburn leads 17-3 in Auburn and 13-4 in Oxford, and the series is tied 5-5 at neutral sites.
Thirteen of the last 19 games in the series have been decided by double digits; Auburn has a 10-3 record in those games.
Saturday will be Hugh Freeze's second game against Ole Miss in his head coaching career. His Liberty team lost 27-14 at No. 16 Ole Miss in 2021 in Freeze's only previous meeting with the Rebels. Freeze was the head coach at Ole Miss from 2012 to 2016 and guided the Rebels to a 39-24 record and four bowl appearances in his five seasons there.
By the Numbers
54: Saturday will mark Auburn's third straight game against a ranked opponent. The Tigers have fared better at home against ranked teams with 54 wins all-time and a 44-37-2 record against ranked SEC opponents in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
11: Auburn has recorded a turnover in every game this season thanks to an interception from D.J. James against LSU last week. The Tigers rank second in the SEC in turnovers forced with 11 through the first six games (7 interceptions, 4 fumbles recovered).
12: After missing his first field goal at Auburn last year, Alex McPherson has made 12 straight, including a 38-yarder last week at LSU. McPherson is a perfect 6 of 6 on field goals this year and set a career long from 53 yards out earlier in the season against Texas A&M.
7: With Auburn announcing a sellout for the New Mexico State game, all seven home games are now sold out for the 2023 season. It's the first full-season sellout for the Tigers since 2015.