LSU’s injury report cleared the way for a major showdown on the edge this weekend, with Princewill Umanmielen expected back in action against Auburn after his name did not appear on the report for the Tigers’ game.
That puts Alex Golesh, Joel Gordon, and Tyler Hudanick in the spotlight immediately. They’ll be dealing with a defender LSU can unleash in Blake Baker’s defense, a player described as a physical freak with a 4.7-second 40-yard dash and elite bend.
The Ole Miss transfer’s return also brings one of LSU’s recent line decisions into sharper focus, since Jacob Strand - who had been working inside earlier this season - has recently logged meaningful snaps at left tackle. He and Jo Simmons now face a serious test against Umanmielen, who had been questionable after missing most of the Mississippi State game with an upper-body injury.
Golesh didn’t exactly downplay what LSU brings off the edge. As he said about LSU, "Those edges are real, like real real."
And it’s not just Umanmielen causing problems. Tennessee transfer Jordan Ross is another dangerous piece, and he backed that up with six tackles and a sack against State this past Saturday.
Ross now has three sacks on the season, trailing only defensive tackle Deuce Geralds, who has five, and Umanmielen, who leads the way with eight. LSU is also working without Gabriel Reliford, who tore his ACL in the spring, yet the group still looks loaded on the edge.
The roster Lane Kiffin recruited has an embarrassment of riches in Baton Rouge.
Auburn’s best path, though, may be to make the game about its ground attack. Umanmielen is not as well known for his run defense, and LSU is stronger overall against the run than the pass. Still, Brown and Jeremiah Cobb delivered their best performances of the season against Georgia, and Auburn’s rushing game could feed off that and the Jordan-Hare Stadium crowd.
If Auburn wants to spring the upset and make the Plains miserable for another favored opponent, controlling the clock is one of the clearest routes.
Brown remains the big swing factor. If he can keep LSU guessing and help create space inside when LSU’s linebackers drop into coverage, then Cobb, Omar Mabson, and the rest of Auburn’s backs could end up deciding a huge SEC matchup.
In Other News...
Auburn Suddenly Has A Staff Question Fans Can't Ignore
Marylands decision to fire Mike Locksley has a ripple effect that Auburn fans cannot really ignore, even if the move happened far from the Plains. The two programs are connected in a way that matters for recruiting, and Auburns staff already has a Maryland link in defensive coordinator DJ Durkin, who previously coached there. When a coaching search opens up, especially at a place tied to current Auburn personnel, the conversation around who stays, who leaves and who follows a coach can start immediately.
Durkin could draw interest for Marylands head coaching job, and that possibility alone creates uncertainty for Auburn as it tries to hold together its recruiting board. The situation also cuts the other way, since Locksleys background includes Alabama ties and real recruiting experience, which could make him a candidate for Auburns coaching staff. For Auburn, the timing is awkward, because any movement at Maryland could affect commitments and relationships the Tigers are trying to protect. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Fans Will Want To See Why Alex Golesh Is In Focus
College GameDay is heading to the University of Utah this Saturday, and ESPN is rolling out a familiar mix of marquee voices for the broadcast ahead of the Utes game against Houston. Rece Davis will anchor the show alongside Kirk Herbstreit and Nick Saban, while Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid is set to serve as the guest picker as the pregame show settles in for another full morning of college football coverage.
The broadcast will also include live appearances from Utah and Miami head coaches, plus special reports on a range of college football topics, which gives the show plenty of ways to keep attention moving before kickoff. For Auburn fans, the reason to keep an eye on this one is how often GameDay can put coaches and programs under the spotlight in ways that linger beyond one Saturday, and Alex Golesh has found himself in that kind of conversation before. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Suddenly Has A Real Shot At A Five-Star Pass Rusher
Marylands decision to move on from Mike Locksley has quickly put one of the nations top defensive prospects back on the radar, and Auburn is a school worth watching. Zion Elee, the five-star edge rusher currently at Maryland, was recruited heavily by the Tigers and has existing ties to the program through his former high school, giving Auburn a familiar lane if he decides to explore a transfer.
For Auburn, the appeal is obvious. Adding a player with Elees pass-rushing upside would be a major boost for a defense that can always use more disruption off the edge, and the timing could work in the Tigers favor ahead of the 2027 season. Nothing is official yet, but the coaching change at Maryland has opened the door for speculation, and Auburn now looks like a real destination to monitor closely. [Read more 🡒]