Despite the schools being just 223 miles apart, the Auburn Tigers and South Alabama Jaguars have never played in football.
That will change Saturday when the two face off in Jordan-Hare Stadium at 11:45 a.m. CST for Week 3 of the college football season.
South Alabama, located in Mobile and a member of the Sun Belt Conference, enters the contest 1-1 after defeating Morgan State 38-21 in Week 1 before falling to Tulane 33-31 in Week 2.
This will be the Jaguars’ first road game of the season, and it will be no small task.
The Tigers are ranked for the first time since 2021, and the buzz around Auburn is high — Jordan-Hare will be loud Saturday. Major Applewhite, South Alabama’s head coach, said the opportunity to play Auburn is “huge.”
“That’s the way you earn respect and you put yourself on the map — to play the very best you can play,” Applewhite said.
South Alabama’s offense has gotten off to a hot start this season. Through two games, the Jaguars are averaging 34.5 points and 394 yards.
At the helm of the attack is junior quarterback Bishop Davenport. A former three-star recruit from Spring, Texas, Davenport originally committed to Utah State but transferred to South Alabama in spring 2023.
Now in his first year as the starter, Davenport has impressed, completing more than 75% of his passes for nearly 400 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. He has also added 52 yards and a touchdown on the ground as part of the Jaguars’ run game.
Davenport’s favorite target is seventh-year senior Devin Voisin. The wideout is coming off a big game against Tulane, hauling in eight catches for 152 yards and two touchdowns to bring his season totals to 15 receptions for 221 yards and three scores through two games.
With Auburn’s secondary emerging as a vulnerable spot — highlighted by giving up more than 400 passing yards to Baylor — the Davenport-to-Voisin connection could be dangerous for the Tigers on Saturday.
The engine of the Jaguars’ offense is senior running back Kentrel Bullock.
A former four-star recruit who began his career at Ole Miss, Bullock is a speedy back who ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash in high school. He constantly creates big plays and is a threat to score anytime he touches the ball.
South Alabama has leaned on him heavily to start the season; so far, he has carried 47 times for 234 yards and three touchdowns. Auburn’s defense has done well against the run to start the year, setting up a tough matchup in the trenches.
While South Alabama’s offense has been efficient to start the season, its defense has struggled.
After giving up 21 points to Morgan State, the Jaguars allowed 33 points and more than 400 yards of offense to Tulane on their home field.
Stopping the run has been a problem, as they’ve allowed 181 and 241 rushing yards in back-to-back games. With how well Auburn has been running the ball, it could be a long day for the Jaguars’ defense.
South Alabama could also be without two of its key defensive playmakers.
Safety Ty Goodwill and linebacker Blayne Myrick both left the last game with injuries and did not return. However, coach Applewhite said he is “optimistic” both will be able to play.
It’s going to be a big test for South Alabama on Saturday. Entering a hostile SEC environment — especially one like Jordan-Hare — is tough for anyone, but particularly for a program that has played Division I FBS football for only 16 years.
To give Auburn a run for its money, the Jaguars will have to match the Tigers’ energy and embrace a “nothing to lose” mentality.
Auburn and South Alabama are set to kick off at 11:45 a.m. CST on SEC Network.
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Cooper is a freshman majoring in journalism. He started with The Plainsman in the fall of 2025.
