Jordan-Hare Stadium is about to erupt this Saturday, as Auburn football rolls in at 2-0 to open SEC play against a Florida Gators squad also sitting pretty at 2-0. Both teams are led by first-year head coaches, making this renewed rivalry clash a massive deal: a win could boost morale through the roof, while a loss would absolutely gut either fanbase after such a hot start.
The Rivalry: Back From the Dead?
This isn’t just any Week 3 game; it’s a rivalry that has gone dormant for too long! Auburn and Florida have duked it out 85 times in history, but since 2000, they have only played eight times, sitting deadlocked at 4-4. Florida took the last one back in 2019, 24-13, but Auburn last snagged a win at Jordan-Hare in 2011 with a 17-6 nail-biter. Auburn Wire’s roundtable is all over this Week 3 matchup, focusing on the battle of these first-year head coaches and the renewal of this bad blood. Seriously, Taylor Jones himself said this game holds special meaning for him; he was there in 2001 when Damon Duval kicked the game-winner over the No. 1 Gators, sparking his college football passion. It’s a shame scheduling formats have hurt this rivalry, but it’s back, baby!
Auburn’s Progress: Good, Bad, and Sloppy
Auburn’s win over Southern Miss gave us a lot to chew on. Taylor Jones loved the balanced offense, seeing both passing and running games clicking. Phillip Jordan was pumped the offense looked sharper than it did against Baylor, and Byrum Brown was way better at protecting the rock. The defense was largely solid, too, except for that one scoring drive at the end of the first half. But, here’s the rub: that offensive line still looked sloppy, drawing too many penalties that wiped out big plays. Jac Myrick gave a shout-out to the coaching staff for making actual adjustments from Week 1, even rotating the O-line to find a fit. Speaking of improvement, Taylor Jones pointed to the O-line showing signs of life, powering the team to over 600 yards! Still, blocking and cutting those penalties are a must. Phillip Jordan highlighted the running game emphasis, clocking 51 carries for 343 yards against the Golden Eagles. And Jac Myrick is eyeing Byrum Brown at QB, whose decision-making looked sharper in Week 2. He’s gotta keep that going against Florida.
This isn’t just another game. With both squads coming in 2-0 under new head coaches, this Saturday at Jordan-Hare is gonna set the tone for one team’s early season. You know a win would send fans absolutely wild, but a loss? Oof. Prepare for some fireworks when Auburn renews this rivalry!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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