Auburn is heading into Week 7 with a lot still unresolved, and quarterback Byrum Brown sits right at the center of it.
Brown, now in his first season on the Plains after transferring from South Florida, has flashed the kind of mobility that can change a game in a hurry. He’s already rushed for 344 yards and 4 touchdowns.
But the other side of the ledger is harder to ignore: 1,055 passing yards, 7 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. That turnover count is exactly the kind of issue Auburn offensive coordinator Joel Gordon wants cleaned up before Saturday’s trip to Athens.
Gordon, also in his first year at Auburn after serving the previous 3 seasons as USF’s offensive coordinator, knows Brown well from their time together in Tampa. On Monday, with the Tigers preparing to face top-ranked Georgia, Gordon made it clear the focus is on sharper choices with the ball.
“We have to make better decisions with the football. … Five games playing this schedule, what has to happen is: ‘I have to learn from my mistakes,'” Gordon said. “The games happen fast in this league.”
He also pointed to the encouraging part of the equation, saying Brown’s mistakes “are avoidable” and “fixable.”
Brown and Gordon are part of the USF-to-Auburn pipeline that also includes head coach Alex Golesh, and all three are still trying to settle in during Year 1 of the new regime. Auburn is 3-2 overall and 1-2 in SEC play, which is the backdrop for this Week 7 matchup against Georgia at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
For Auburn, the margin in this one figures to be thin, and Brown’s decision-making will be one of the biggest things to watch when the Tigers walk into that atmosphere on Saturday.
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Auburn Landed A Homegrown QB Who Already Feels Different
Auburn added an important early piece to its 2028 class when Gadsden City junior quarterback Sam Sollie committed to the Tigers, giving Alex Golesh a homegrown passer with plenty of runway ahead of him. Sollie has put together a strong season at the high school level, showing the kind of efficiency that made both Alabama and Auburn take a hard look, and now he becomes the first recruit in Goleshs next class.
Sollies commitment also gives Auburn something beyond a simple quarterback pledge. He has already started helping recruit other players, a sign the Tigers view him as more than just a future arm in the room. For a program trying to build early momentum under a new coach, landing a local quarterback who is willing to get involved right away is the kind of development that can ripple well beyond one position group. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Faces A Brutal SEC Test With Plenty To Prove
Auburn heads into its annual rivalry trip to Athens with a chance to measure itself against the standard in the SEC, and the timing could hardly be tougher. Georgia is ranked No. 1 and is looking to keep its long run of success in the series rolling, while Auburn is trying to find out how much progress it has really made against one of the leagues most demanding opponents.
Kirby Smart and Alex Golesh both spent time this week addressing the matchup and where their teams stand, underscoring the contrast between Georgias steady dominance and Auburns need to prove it can handle the moment. With the Bulldogs chasing a 10th straight win in the rivalry, a result that would tie a series record, Auburns trip is about more than bragging rights. It is another pressure point in a season that will be judged by how it responds in games like this. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Signee's Eligibility Fight Could Decide If He Ever Plays
Auburns incoming backcourt picture has picked up an unexpected legal wrinkle, with signee Mantas Rubtaviius turning to the courts in an effort to secure his place on the roster. The former professional player filed a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking a temporary restraining order and injunction so he can suit up for Auburn in the 2026-27 season, putting his future in the program on hold while the eligibility question gets sorted out.
At the center of the dispute is new NCAA guidance that takes a closer look at players with professional experience, something Rubtaviius argues does not line up with earlier eligibility rulings. Auburn has backed his right to seek clarity, but for now the program is waiting on a court hearing set for Oct. 16, a date that could go a long way toward determining whether one of its signees ever makes it to campus in uniform. [Read more 🡒]