Under normal circumstances, a late November game against Mercer wouldn’t mean much for an Auburn team with a losing record, but Saturday the future was on full display.
Freshman five-star quarterback Deuce Knight made his first start for the orange and blue and didn’t waste time making his mark, leading the Tigers to a 62–17 victory over Mercer.
Knight was unstoppable in his first collegiate start, recording 239 passing yards, 162 rushing yards and six total touchdowns. The six touchdowns tied Cam Newton and Carnell Williams for the single-game program record.
“Deuce was making the right decisions and delivering the ball where it was supposed to go,” said head coach D.J. Durkin. “That’s what we’ve seen from Deuce in practice. It was really cool to watch him go do it in a game atmosphere.”
The Auburn family didn’t have to wait long to cheer for Knight, as he took the first play from scrimmage 75 yards for a touchdown. The Lucedale, Mississippi, native had a field day on the ground, averaging 18 yards per carry and ending the afternoon with four rushing touchdowns. The freshman became the first Auburn quarterback to rush for 150 yards or more since Nick Marshall vs. Tennessee in 2013. He also became the first Auburn quarterback with four rushing touchdowns in a game since Newton vs. Kentucky in 2010.
"It was crazy," Knight said of his first rushing touchdown. "Like I said, great blocking downfield, great blocking up front, I just do the easy part. All you got to do is just run."
It wasn’t just the ground game working for Knight. He also made a stellar first impression through the air. His marquee throw came in the third quarter when he found wide receiver Malcolm Simmons for a 91-yard touchdown, tying for the third-longest touchdown pass in school history. Simmons led the way for Auburn’s receiving room with five receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown.
Malcolm Simmons (4) celebrates touchdown against Mercer in Jordan - Hare Stadium on November 22, 2025.
Auburn’s offense is finally hitting its stride late in the season following Derrick Nix’s promotion to offensive coordinator. The Tigers have combined to record 100 points and 1,110 yards over their last two games. This terrific output by Knight and company allowed former starter Jackson Arnold to play in the fourth quarter, and he joined the party with a 56-yard rushing touchdown of his own.
Jackson Arnold (11) runs the ball for a touchdown against mercer in Jordan - Hare Stadium on November 22, 2025.
“I’m so happy for Derrick Nix,” Durkin said. “He got an opportunity to call plays, and I think we’ve all seen what he’s done here in two games. Could not be happier.”
Mercer’s offense came out hot, putting up back-to-back touchdown drives and finishing the first half with 17 points. However, the Tigers’ defense made some adjustments at halftime and shut out the Southern Conference foe in the second half. Freshman middle linebacker Elijah Melendez got the scoring started in the second half for Auburn, picking off Mercer quarterback Braden Atkinson and returning it for a touchdown.
“This ain’t how we play and it’s unacceptable,” Durkin said he told his team at halftime. “We have good leadership and they know how to respond to that, and that’s what they did."
Auburn will now turn its attention to next week and the 90th rendition of the Iron Bowl, where it will look to clinch bowl eligibility. Kickoff between the Tigers and Crimson Tide is set for 6:30 p.m. CST, and the game will be televised on ABC.
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Rory is a sophomore majoring in journalism sports production. He started with The Plainsman in the spring of 2025.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @RorymGarvin
