The Opening Drive: Auburn vs. No. 16 Missouri

AUBURN, Ala. – Looking to recreate last week’s raucous Jordan-Hare setting for another Saturday night SEC showdown, Auburn coach Hugh Freeze thanked Tiger fans for doing their part and then some.

“I compliment our crowd, our fans, incredible,” Freeze said. “We’ll need them out even stronger Saturday night as we try to play another top 15 team. I think we’ve proven that we belong in those games, now we’ve got to prove we’re good enough to win those.”

Seeking its first SEC victory, Auburn faces a top 20 opponent for the fourth consecutive week when No. 16 Missouri visits Jordan-Hare Stadium.

“I firmly believe that when the stage is set with adversity, the opportunity for greatness is there,” Freeze said. “The right type of people, adversity reveals exactly what your character is and what you’re made of and how much you truly care about this place, the people that have given you this opportunity, your brothers in that locker room that you’ve committed to.

“I believe that’s a locker room full of guys that are going to fight their tails off because they know how close they are. They know what it means to each other and this place, and how we respond will reveal that. You’ve got to go through it. You can’t go around it. There’s no shortcut, and there are no easy games. There’s no easy road. The great thing is, you get to find out a lot about yourself and who you really are. I’m excited to see that.”

After playing its first six games at home, Missouri makes its first road trip this weekend to the Plains, an opportunity for Auburn’s offense to match up with Freeze protégé Corey Batoon, Missouri’s defensive coordinator.

“I think his defense is one of the better we faced, I think they’re fourth in the league in total defense,” Freeze said. “People aren’t running the ball on them very much at all. They’re scoring points with their quarterbacks and tailbacks, receivers are playing at a very high level. Really good football team that we get an opportunity to test ourselves against.”

Auburn (3-3, 0-3) hosts No. 16 Missouri (5-1, 1-1) Saturday at 6:45 p.m. CT on SEC Network with Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers and Cole Cubelic on the call. On the Auburn Sports Network, Andy Burcham, Jason Campbell and Ronnie Brown will bring play-by-play, analysis and sideline reporting to listeners. 

THREE QUESTIONS WITH WR PERRY THOMPSON

Q: How was it to make your first start (against Georgia) and to tie your career high with two receptions (for 18 yards)? 

A: It was very big. I felt like I was back at Foley (High School). My confidence was high and I felt like I was competing well against some top cornerbacks.

Q: What have you done that allowed you to work with the first unit? 

A: Consistency. Playing the same every day. Not having a high day then a low day. Keeping everything high and executing my job every play.

Q: What do you want to show this week against Missouri? 

A: My dominance. What I can do to take over a game. Get the ball in my hands and let me work.

INSIDE THE SERIES: MISSOURI

Auburn holds a 3-2 all-time record against Missouri, including a 1-0 record against the visiting Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The previous meeting on the Plains on Sept. 24, 2022, resulted in a 17-14 overtime win for Auburn. Anders Carlson kicked a field goal before the defense recovered a fumble on the second play of Missouri’s possession to end the game.

BY THE NUMBERS

20: Auburn is 3-0 this season and 13-4 under head coach Hugh Freeze when scoring 20+ points in a game. Conversely, the Tigers are 0-3 this season and 1-13 under Freeze when scoring fewer than 20 points. On the other side of the ball, Auburn is 2-1 this season and 12-2 under Freeze when allowing fewer than 20 points. 

30: Wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. has a catch in every game of his collegiate career, extending his streak to 30 games with three catches vs. Georgia. The Georgia Tech transfer leads Auburn with 30 receptions on the season and ranks eighth in the SEC with 187 yards after catch. 

519: Auburn’s defense has allowed 519 rushing yards through six games, good for the fewest in the first fix games of a season since 1999 (488) and the fifth fewest since 1968. The Tigers have held the opponent under 100 rushing yards in four of six games this season and 10 of 18 games under defensive coordinator DJ Durkin. 

37: Xavier Atkins has led Auburn in tackles in all three SEC games (7 tackles at Oklahoma; 10 tackles at Texas A&M; 8 tackles vs. Georgia) and leads the Tigers with 37 tackles on the season. He’s the only FBS player with 35+ tackles, 7.0+ TFL, 3.0+ sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception.