The Florida Gators and Auburn Tigers will renew their long-time rivalry this weekend to open up the 2026 SEC schedule, ending a seven-year hiatus while playing for just the second time in two decades.
Both programs saw significant changes on the sidelines coming into the season, with former Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall taking the reins for Florida and erstwhile USF skipper Alex Golesh now the head honcho at Auburn. Both teams also brought in new quarterbacks — and other key players — through the transfer portal looking to turn things around.
We asked Auburn Wire's lead writer Taylor Jones a series of questions about this year's edition of the Tigers ahead of Saturday night's showdown. Here is what he had to offer.
Auburn hasn't seen much success since 2019 stretching across three different coaching staffs. What makes Alex Golesh different than his recent predecessors?
What stands out to me the most
about Golesh is his demand for excellence and personal accountability. The last administration was all about "being close" and, at times, would throw players under the bus. Golesh will acknowledge when issues need to be corrected, but he will be the first to take the blame when things go wrong. It is quite refreshing to see that from an Auburn head coach.
What are the fans expecting out of Byrum Brown and can he live up to his lofty expectations?
Fans expect to see a dual-threat expert in Brown. He has shown signs of being able to take off and truck defenders, but I do not think we have seen him at his full level yet. Brown took a step forward in last week's win over Southern Miss by not throwing interceptions, found more lanes to run through, and even caught a touchdown pass. I think fans want to see Brown progress this week and hope to see him at his full potential by the middle of SEC play.
What is your impression of this revamped Auburn team after two games played?
Alex Golesh's decision to keep DJ Durkin as defensive coordinator has paid off. Offensively, I think the Tigers are still working to find the right combination of offensive linemen. Once that happens, I think we will see an amplified run game with running backs Jeremiah Cobb, Omar Mabson, Bryson Washington and even Byrum Brown getting more lanes to run through.
Of the three team groups — offense, defense and special teams — which is Auburn's strongest corps and why?
The defense has been nothing short of impressive through two games. They kept Baylor in check when the offense struggled, and Southern Miss' offense barely got any traction last week. As mentioned before, one of the smartest moves Golesh made was to keep DJ Durkin at defensive coordinator. Because of this, several key players such as Xavier Atkins, Elijah Melendez, and Eric Winters stayed and momentum from last season has carried over.
Which Gators are you focused on this weekend?
Jaden Baugh and Aaron Philo. Auburn's defense has been solid at stopping the run this season, and I am curious to see how well they defend Baugh. I am interested to see how well Philo thrives in a loud environment. If he does well in Jordan-Hare on Saturday, he could become an X-factor in more games this season.
How are you feeling about the renewed rivalry between Florida and Auburn?
I'm happy that this rivalry is renewed, and disappointed that this is just the second time since 2010 that the two teams have met. As a young person, I became an Auburn fan the night the Tigers upset No. 1 Florida in 2001 after watching Damon Duval's kick sail through the uprights on that windy night live in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
I also attended the 2019 game in the Swamp, and the atmosphere was incredible. It is a shame that it has been this long since these two teams played.
Auburn beats Florida IF...
The defense keeps playing with fire, and if Auburn finds the right combination of offensive linemen. The crowd will be a major factor, so the players will need to feed off the energy and execute at a high level.
PREDICTION: Auburn 17, Florida 10
X-FACTOR: The defense will play lights-out, so Byrum Brown must be able to take control of the offense and get the ball to his playmakers.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Going behind enemy lines ahead of Florida vs Auburn in SEC opener
