The Opening Drive: Auburn vs. Vanderbilt

AUBURN, Ala. – Undefeated Vanderbilt comes to the Plains Saturday for Auburn’s Homecoming, fresh off one of the wildest endings this season will produce.

The Commodores recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown when NC State tried to run out the clock last Saturday. Trailing by 17 points on several occasions, Vandy led for only one second in the 35-31 victory, but was the one that matters – the final second.

Jordan-Hare Stadium represents the inaugural road trip for Vanderbilt freshman quarterback Jared Curtis, who accounted for 341 total yards last week in his first start.

“He’s really special,” Auburn coach Alex Golesh said. “The No. 1 quarterback in the country (in the 2026 class), he looks mature beyond his years to go operate and for them to trust him to come into this environment and be able to go do it. We’ve got to take advantage of whatever freshman moments there are. If there are, we’ve got to take advantage of them.”

Defensively, Vanderbilt thrives on pressure, blitzing frequently. 

“As aggressive as we’ve seen,” Golesh said. “If you could take advantage of it and be on the right side of it, for us, being able to protect, being able to run the football, all these things we’re trying to get better at every single day. 

“They present a bunch of challenges. They force you to be on it. If you’re not on it, you’re going to cut guys loose and it’s not a good deal.”

Seeking to improve to 10-1 all-time at home against the Commodores, Auburn (2-1, 0-1) hosts Vanderbilt (3-0, 0-0) Saturday at 3:15 p.m. CT on SEC Network and the Auburn Sports Network, where Andy Burcham, Jason Campbell and Ronnie Brown will call the action for listeners.

THREE QUESTIONS WITH DB SYLVESTER SMITH-REED

Q: When you look at Vanderbilt, what challenges jump out at you?

A: They’re a good team. They’re in the SEC. We all know how it’s been the last two years playing them. We’ve got to be ready. It’s time to respond and focus on the process every day.

Q: How are you addressing the alignment issues that affected the defense at times last week?

A: Coming to practice and drilling it. Doing it in practice at a high level and doing it every day.

Q: How much does last week’s result motivate you?

A: It definitely gets us going. It’s all about responding. We’ve got to look at each other and look ourselves in the mirror and decide what we’re going to do. As a man, you either respond or you lay down. In that room, there’s no laying down so we’re going to respond.   

INSIDE THE SERIES: VANDERBILT

Auburn trails the all-time series against Vanderbilt, 22-23-1 but owns a 9-1 record against the Commodores at home. The lone home loss in the series came in the most recent matchup at Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2024. Four of the last six matchups in the series have been decided by seven points or fewer. 

Last Five Meetings

• Nov. 8, 2025 (Nashville, TN): Vanderbilt 45, Auburn 38
• Nov. 2, 2024 (Auburn, AL): Vanderbilt 17, Auburn 7
• Nov. 4, 2023 (Nashville, TN): Auburn 31, Vanderbilt 15
• Nov. 5, 2016 (Auburn, AL): Auburn 23, Vanderbilt 16
• Oct. 20, 2012 (Nashville, TN): Vanderbilt 17, Auburn 13

BY THE NUMBERS

3: Auburn has thrown for 200 or more yards in the first three games of the season for the first time since 1997.

101: Byrum Brown accounted for four touchdowns vs. Florida and has now accounted for 101 touchdowns in his career, nine more than any other active FBS player.

21: Xavier Atkins turned in his sixth game with 2.0 or more TFL since the start of last season vs. Florida. His 21.0 TFL during the span are the most in the SEC and tied for the third most in FBS.

34: The Tigers have won a program-best 34 consecutive Homecoming contests dating back to 1992 and are 87-8-4 all-time in Homecoming games.