Auburn is heading into its final home game of the season this year against one of the strongest teams in the SEC in the Texas A&M Aggies. The Tigers are looking to beat their first ranked opponent since 2021 this weekend in their first SEC night game in Jordan-Hare this season.
Several players talked about the points of emphasis and insights into their mindset as a team heads into one of its biggest tests of the season with Texas A&M on deck.
“Obviously, you know, it starts in the trenches,” Quarterback Payton Thorne said about the Aggies defense, “both on offense and defense and they have a very talented and good size defensive line, and obviously they’ve done a good job this year rushing the passer and stopping the run. So, they’re a really good defense they’ve got a lot of talent.
“We got two games left, like I said, to buy us a third.” Thorne went on to say. “And so this is a huge game for us. You know, we’re fighting for our season right now, and like you said, it’s a night game in front of our fans, which is a different atmosphere.”
Quarterback isn’t the only focus for Auburn’s offense. The team will also need strong play from its receivers to step up and make an impact. One of the key players is fifth-year senior Keandre Lambert-Smith, who brings experience and playmaking ability to the Tigers’ passing game.
“You see a defense that flies around and who’s pretty good especially up front.” Lambert-Smith said about Texas A&M’s strengths.
“I feel like it’s a great opportunity," the veteran wide receiver said discussing the importance of the game. “For us to get a win and end the season strong versus a top team and its night game so it’s a pretty big game and that’s what I came to the SEC for.”
The Tigers will not just have to handle the Aggies defense that is reminiscent of a 'NFL front' as senior Rivaldo Fairweather put it, Auburn will also have to find a way to contain Aggies’ dual threat quarterback Marcel Reed which has been a struggle for many of his opponents.
“We need to stick to our keys and keep doing that with coaching,” senior safety Jerrin Thompson said about defending Reed, “and keep practicing well and the way we need to, and things should work out right.”
On the defensive side with Thompson, yet another in senior pass rusher Jalen McLeod will need to lead the charge in the trenches for The Tigers.
“We have to, we have to,” McLeod said about handling the Reed on the ground. “So in the beginning like when playing Oklahoma, he got a big run, and we learned that quarterbacks like that, they can change the game. So, we know that we have to contain the quarterback. We have to rush with a vision.”
“They’re a good run team, you know, they want to run the ball," McLeod said when expanding on Texas A&M’s running attack. “They’re huge up front so even their tight ends huge so they want to establish that run early and we just gotta stop that. We’re a good run stopping team. So, it’s a great run offense versus a great running stopping defense, and we’ll see who wins.”
The Tigers will look to play spoiler against the Aggies on Saturday night as they host their first SEC night game on their final home game of the year. The Tigers’ veteran led attacks will look to both manage the Aggies in the trenches on defense and on the ground on offense. Auburn will kickoff Saturday, Nov. 23 at 6:30 p.m. CST on ESPN.
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Reid is a freshman, exploratory major. He joined the Plainsman in the fall of 2024.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @ReidFarris2
