Florida’s first SEC test arrives Saturday night in a place it hasn’t been since 2011, and the setting makes the matchup feel bigger than an opener should. The Gators head to Auburn for a 7 p.m. kickoff on ESPN, with both programs still trying to get a read on where they really stand under first-year coaches.
Florida enters at 2-0 and will play at Jordan-Hare Stadium for the first time since Auburn’s 17-6 win over the Gators in 2011. This one also doubles as an early measuring stick for Jon Sumrall at Florida and Alex Golesh at Auburn, but the more interesting battle may be on the headset. Kevin Brockway pointed to Auburn defensive coordinator DJ Durkin facing Florida offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner as a matchup that could swing the night.
Florida has been rolling early, putting up 50 or more points in each of its first two games with Faulkner running the offense. Still, Brockway doesn’t see that kind of fireworks continuing against Auburn.
"I don't think they are scoring 50 points on a DJ Durkin defense, but if they can get between 20-30, I think they will be in good shape," Brockway said.
Andrew Abadie said the game may be decided by something far less glamorous: the line of scrimmage. Auburn’s run defense has been billed as a strength, and that puts pressure on Florida to prove it can win in the trenches.
"It's the less flashy of the headlines, but Auburn's run defense is supposed to be the real deal. Florida's offense needs to be tested," Abadie said.
"Can Florida run the ball? I mean, Florida's offense, there's all the bells and whistles, but they need to run the ball for the bells and whistles to work."
Auburn comes in at 2-0 as well, fresh off a 43-8 win over Southern Miss after edging Baylor 17-16 in Atlanta to open the year. Adam Cole, Auburn’s beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser, said the Tigers are in a solid place as a program, even if there’s still some nerves around this game.
"As far as the program itself, it's on good footing, heading into this game," Cole said. "I think in a lot of ways they are in a similar place to Florida, where it's, 'OK, we need to see this against SEC competition.' But I do think, and it's understandable, the fanbase is a little anxious about things, and they are anxious about this weekend, that's for sure."
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