The Opening Drive: Auburn at Mississippi State

AUBURN, Ala. – To get to Tiger Walk at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi, two and a half hours before kickoff at 11 a.m., Auburn will be up before sunrise Saturday morning in Tupelo.

“This is as early of a start with a legit travel and a bus ride in the morning,” Auburn coach Alex Golesh said. “Having the right intent, the right focus, the right detail, the right energy level to go start fast.”

In Auburn’s two most recent SEC victories over top-ranked Georgia and Arkansas, the Tigers overcame double-digit deficits. Hence, Golesh’s hope for a fast start against Mississippi State on Saturday. 

“They've not allowed people to run it and that's literally the entire schedule,” Golesh said. “That's the biggest challenge for us. We've got to go right back to work and play detailed offense where we cannot, again, be in a hole through a half before we figure out what we really want to be. That’s coaching, that’s players, that's everybody involved in the commitment to start fast is absolutely huge for us.”

With standout quarterback Kamario Taylor out for the season after surgery, the Bulldogs have turned to backup AJ Swann, who completed 23 of 36 passes last week for 254 yards and two touchdowns vs. Vanderbilt.

“He’s got really incredible arm talent,” defensive coordinator DJ Durkin said. “He can make all the throws on the field. You can tell he is settled in. He looks like he’s operating the offense at a high level. When you look at the guys he’s throwing to, they’ve got some skill at receiver. Those guys are as talented as anyone we’ll face. They’ve got real speed and they present some issues.”

To prepare for its 10th game of the season, Auburn balances physical practices with the goal of having fresh legs on gameday.

“Today we went full go,” Golesh said Wednesday in his last media availability before the game. “We’re continuing to build what we expect to be the foundation. We’re continuing to plug and guys are stepping up. It’s been positive in that regard but we’re continuing to be physical through practice.”

Looking for its 15th win in Starkville, Auburn (5-4, 3-4) visits Mississippi State (4-5, 2-5) Saturday at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN2 and the Auburn Sports Network, where Andy Burcham, Jason Campbell and Bret Eddins will provide play-by-play, analysis and sideline reporting for listeners. 

THREE QUESTIONS WITH DB BLAKE WOODBY

Q. What was it like making your first career start last week against Arkansas? 

A: It was great. I prepared the same way I did in spring ball, fall camp, from week one all the way to week nine when I got my shot. Understanding that it’s going to come at some point in time but I have to be prepared. It was a great feeling to know the work I put in since I got to Auburn and since AG got here, it was all worth it.

Q: It looked like you had an interception (on a play that video review ruled an incompletion). How much confidence does that play give you?

A: It gave me a lot of confidence. That was preparation. I got that confidence watching film and knowing what they were going to do. I knew that play was going to come by watching it over and over and over again with the other teams they played before. I was in the right place at the right time, and I trusted what I watched on film and applied it on the field.

Q: What’s your approach to defending Mississippi State’s talented receivers?  

A: I’m going to continue to do the things I’ve been doing since week one. Prepare the right way, look at their offensive scheme and understand where I have to be, what they do best and what their receivers do best. Understanding what they do well and how we hope to take it away throughout (defensive coordinator) Coach Durkin's scheme.

INSIDE THE SERIES: MISSISSIPPI STATE

In a series that dates back to 1905, Auburn leads Mississippi State 66-29-2 all-time, including a 14-8-1 mark in Starkville. After playing every year from 1955-2023, Saturday’s game marks the first between the two teams in three years and the first in Starkville since 2022.

Auburn won the most recent matchup 27-13, and the last game in Starkville went to OT with Mississippi State winning 39-33. Prior to the overtime game in 2022, the previous five meetings in Starkville were decided by 14 or more points with Auburn going 2-3 in those contests.

Last Five Meetings

• Oct. 28, 2023 (Auburn, AL): Auburn 27, Mississippi State 13
• Nov. 5, 2022 (Starkville, MS): Mississippi State 39, Auburn 33
• Nov. 13, 2021 (Auburn, AL): Mississippi State 43, Auburn 34
• Dec. 12, 2020 (Starkville, MS): Auburn 24, Mississippi State 10
• Sept. 28, 2019 (Auburn, AL): Auburn 56, Mississippi State 23

BY THE NUMBERS

3: Making his collegiate debut, freshman linebacker Shadarius Toodle set an Auburn freshman record with three sacks vs. Arkansas. The SEC and Shaun Alexander Award Freshman of the Week totaled 4.5 TFL, the third most by an Auburn player since at least 1996, and 11 tackles, four more than any other Auburn player in their debut during the same span.

4: Last Saturday’s win vs. Arkansas marked Auburn’s fourth one-possession win of the season, the most one-possession wins in the SEC and tied for the second most in FBS. It’s the first time since 2019 the Tigers have had four one-possession wins in a season.

10: The game marked the team’s second SEC win when trailing by 10 or more points this season – along with the 14-point comeback at Georgia – marking the first season with multiple SEC wins when trailing by double digits since 2013.

12: The Auburn defense registered a season-high 12 TFL against the Razorbacks, including six sacks. It marked the most totals in a SEC game since 2018 vs. Texas A&M and 2021 vs. Alabama, respectively.