Never say never in college football, even with the sport looking nothing like it did a decade ago. NIL, the transfer portal, coaching paydays and conference realignment have changed the landscape, but the upset still lives.
That’s why Arkansas heading to Jordan-Hare Stadium to face Auburn doesn’t feel impossible, especially after what both teams have shown over the last two weeks. Auburn has taken a beating in back-to-back losses, falling to LSU 38-17 and Ole Miss 45-15 after knocking off then-No.
1 Georgia 27-24 on the road. Arkansas, meanwhile, came close against Tennessee at home before losing 24-17, then followed that with a 31-21 win at Vanderbilt.
Any momentum from that breakthrough vanished fast when Missouri rolled the Razorbacks in the second half last week in a 34-10 loss.
So here come two first-year head coaches, Ryan Silverfield and Alex Golesh, both trying to stop the slide and get back in the win column Saturday.
Auburn brings more raw talent to the matchup. According to Razorbacks On SI offseason tracker, the Tigers have four 5-stars, 33 4-stars and 37 3-stars on the roster.
Arkansas has one former 5-star, 28 4-stars and 44 3-stars. On paper, that edge belongs to Auburn.
But Silverfield has one thing going for him that could matter: he’s already handled Golesh. Over the previous three seasons, Silverfield went 3-0 against Golesh’s USF teams during his time at Memphis.
That doesn’t guarantee anything in the SEC, of course. The rosters are different now, the expectations are different, and the level of competition is higher.
Memphis had one of the best NIL budgets in the Group of Five, and USF was climbing under Golesh. Still, familiarity matters, and Silverfield has clearly had an answer for Golesh in their past meetings.
And with both teams searching for traction, that history stands out even more. Arkansas looked like it might be turning a corner against Missouri before the second half unraveled. Auburn’s defense, for its part, has allowed 83 points over its last two games, which at least gives the Razorbacks a chance to settle in offensively and find some rhythm.
Silverfield needs this one to look like progress, not another step back. Given his track record against Golesh, Saturday afternoon in Auburn may be as good an opening as Arkansas is going to get.
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Auburns Offense Has A Huge November Chance To Change Everything
October left Auburn with plenty to sort through on offense, and the schedule did not do the Tigers any favors. Four top-16 opponents helped explain the grind, but it still was not the kind of production this group expected in the first season under Alex Golesh, even with the upset win over Georgia providing a signature moment along the way.
November now gives Auburn a different kind of test and a different kind of opportunity. The Tigers will see less daunting SEC defenses over the final stretch, and the stakes are clear: a chance to push toward their first bowl bid since 2023 and their first winning record since 2020 if the offense can finally start matching the rest of the season's promise. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Gets A Start Time Fans Have Reason To Dread
Auburns Week 11 trip to Mississippi State now comes with an early alarm clock. The Southeastern Conference announced Saturday that the Tigers will kick off at 11 a.m. CT on Nov. 14 from Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, with the game set for ESPN or ESPN2.
It is the kind of start time fans usually dread for a road game in the SEC, especially with a tough conference matchup on deck and the usual uncertainty that comes with TV selections this far out. The league also laid out the rest of its Week 11 slate, but Auburns focus will be on getting ready for a morning kickoff in Starkville. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn May Have Found An Answer On Its Shaky Offensive Line
Auburns offensive line has been one of the more unsettled parts of the season, so Jacobe Wards first start at right guard against Ole Miss stood out as a notable development. The sophomore had been working in limited action before earning the job after a competition with teammate Cole Skinner, giving the Tigers a new look at a spot that has needed more stability.
Alex Golesh said the lines performance will continue to be evaluated, and Auburn appears likely to keep rotating pieces as the final games of the season play out. For a unit still searching for the right combination, Wards emergence at least gives the staff another option to consider as it tries to settle things down up front. [Read more 🡒]