Vanderbilt Football (5-3, 2-2 SEC) needs one more win to secure bowl eligibility for the first time since 2018 after a close loss to then-No. 5 Texas in Week Nine, and its matchup this week against Auburn (3-5, 1-4) is its best chance to do so. The Commodores will face South Carolina (4-3, 2-3), No. 16 LSU and No. 7 Tennessee after Auburn — so if Clark Lea’s group can’t get the job done this week, their bowl hopes will fade.
The Tigers picked up their first SEC win last week, toppling a flailing Kentucky team 24-10. Running back Jarquez Hunter led the way, rushing for 278 yards on 23 attempts — the fourth most single-game rushing yards in school history. Auburn also boasts a stout defense that ranks within the nation’s top 30 in rushing yards allowed (25th), red zone defense (7th) and scoring defense (26th).
Auburn’s quarterback Payton Thorne has struggled all year, however, averaging less than 200 passing yards per game (193.9) and turning the ball over eight times in seven games. Head coach Hugh Freeze has also lost to Diego Pavia twice — once in 2022 while he was still coaching Liberty and again in 2023 during his first year at Auburn.
The Hustler went Behind Enemy Bylines to interview Patrick Bingham, the Sports Editor of The Auburn Plainsman, to preview this weekend’s matchup between Vanderbilt and Auburn.
Vanderbilt Hustler: How big will the run game, specifically Jarquez Hunter, be for Auburn against Vanderbilt?
Patrick Bingham: I think [the run game] is critical. It really has been all season. The run just sets everything else up. It’s not exactly a prolific passing attack for Auburn by any means, but when you can get that run game going, it definitely starts to open other things up. Jarquez is one of the best players on the team, and obviously, that was such a key last week [where he had] the record-breaking performance for Auburn in Lexington. I don’t see a scenario where Auburn wins or really [plays] a close game if the rushing attack doesn’t go really well for them.
VH: What do you think Hugh Freeze’s game plan will be for Diego Pavia?
PB: [Freeze] said on Monday, “I’m sick of playing him.” I definitely understand why. I would guess Auburn [will attempt] to eliminate the run game and really force [Vanderbilt] to throw. I think the most successful piece of [Auburn’s defense] has been their defensive line, maybe their linebackers, and it’s just a really young secondary — a lot of true freshmen sprinkled in throughout the entire defense. I would imagine they try to lean on that and force Vanderbilt to throw. I think the way Diego [Pavia] plays, he’s bound to get one or two big plays. This defense all year has been bend, don’t break. In some of those bigger moments, when the offense is continually putting them on the field every time they lose possession, the defense will break. But I think it’s one of those things where if the defense can just blow them off and hold them off, then [Auburn] will have a chance.
VH: Who do you think will have a big impact on this game from Auburn’s defense?
PB: Keldrick Faulk’s had a great season on the defensive line as a sophomore. He’s had multiple sacks in multiple games. I believe he’s had two sacks in three different games. Faulk’s going to be a huge piece. If Keldrick is going to be such a dominant force and Auburn may not have to send as many people after Pavia, that certainly would help the back end as well.
VH: Do you see any holes in Auburn’s otherwise capable defense?
PB: I would say the secondary is just really thin, and there are a lot of young players. I mean young, as in “true freshman” young. They’ve been playing most of, if not all, season, so how true freshman are you now? I don’t know. When you’re a freshman, especially playing against an experienced quarterback and some other experienced players on Vanderbilt’s team, you’re bound to make some mistakes at some point. I would probably go with the secondary on that one. Auburn’s defense, as a whole, has really struggled in positions where you would feel like they would have the advantage, like third-and-longs. In their losses, they have struggled to get off the field on third down. If the game goes Vanderbilt’s way, I would suspect that they had some big third downs.
VH: Do you have faith in Payton Thorne under center?
PB: Obviously, Payton has had a rocky season, and there’s a lot that goes into that. I think, for Payton, that ground game is going to be crucial just to put him in a position to succeed. He’s had a big turnover problem — some of them have been on the receiver, and some of them have been on him. I think there’s going to be limited possessions on both sides, just because of the style that both teams play. You only get so many possessions, and Auburn’s really going to have to take advantage of every opportunity, especially in scoring position. It would definitely have to be a step in the right direction and some improvement to succeed on Saturday.
VH: How promising do you think Auburn’s win over Kentucky was?
PB: [Auburn] had to get a win with that record going into the game — I believe 2-5. You just have to get the win [in that scenario]. They were dominant in the final three quarters … but this is not some team that’s magically changed. They are still who they are. They still struggle to take advantage of opportunities. There are still some weird clock management things. I think the win was obviously crucially important. You’ll always take a win over a loss. Does it mean they’re back or in some greater position to win this Saturday? I don’t think so. I think it could give them confidence. If Auburn does have a lead going into the fourth quarter, maybe they’re different in that scenario.
VH: What’s your score prediction for the game?
PB: I am going to go with Vanderbilt. I’ll [say] 31-21. It will likely be a low-possession game.
