Auburn’s defense may be limping into Starkville, and the next few days will tell the Tigers a lot about who’s actually ready to go against Jeff Lebby’s Mississippi State offense.
The biggest concern centers on three players who left Auburn’s 26-23 win over Arkansas: linebackers Elijah Melendez and De’Marcus Riddick, along with defensive tackle Cody Sigler. Alex Golesh didn’t offer a firm update on any of them during his Monday press conference, but he did sound optimistic about where things stand.
"All those dudes are fighting like crazy to get back," Golesh said. "...
I feel good with where we’re are. We have to be really smart with how we practice."
Riddick exited in the second quarter and never returned, though he did make a trip to the locker room before reappearing on the sideline. Melendez also left, went to the injury tent early in the second half, and did not come back.
Sigler had the most unusual night of the group. He left twice, including one trip to the locker room, but he did return and finish the game, even recording half a sack in the fourth quarter.
Auburn was already working around two defensive starters before those latest scares. Safety Sylvester Smith-Reed and linebacker Bryce Deas were both unavailable against Arkansas.
Golesh said after the game that Deas is out for the season after a practice injury to his wrist/hand, while on Monday he suggested Smith-Reed should be back at safety this weekend. Cornerback Andre Jordan Jr. was a game-time decision but ultimately did not play.
Golesh also said Deas asked him Monday morning if he could make the trip to Starkville so he could stay with the team.
With the linebacker room especially hit hard, Saturday’s breakout belonged to true freshman Shadarius Toodle. In his first college action, he piled up 11 tackles, three sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss. Even if Melendez and Riddick are cleared, Toodle looks like a player Auburn will have to keep leaning on.
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The College Football Playoff is headed for another major overhaul, with the field set to expand to 24 teams starting in 2027 and the current 12-team setup on the way out. The ripple effect has already reached the SEC, which announced it will drop its annual championship game beginning next season, a change that could alter how teams are judged, seeded and positioned in the months that matter most.
For Auburn, the news adds another layer to an already shifting postseason landscape, even if Alex Golesh kept his comments brief when asked about it at a press conference. He acknowledged the changes without offering much in the way of reaction, leaving plenty of room for the bigger question that now hangs over the league: how the new format and the end of the SEC title game will reshape the path to the playoff. [Read more 🡒]
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Steven Pearl made it clear the integration has been deliberate, not accidental, as Auburn tries to blend so many fresh faces into a workable rotation. The challenge now is less about identifying talent than figuring out how quickly all of those pieces can settle into place, especially with two players still navigating their own separate hurdles before this group can really show its full shape. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Gets One Last Tune-Up Before A Much Bigger Test
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The game will air live on SEC Network and stream on Fubo, with radio coverage on the Auburn Sports Network for fans following along the old-fashioned way. For Auburn, the matchup is less about the spotlight and more about sharpening habits, getting the rotation into rhythm and making sure the details are cleaner before the next step up in competition. [Read more 🡒]