Then-No. 9 Vanderbilt fell to then-No. 20 Texas this past weekend, 34-31, in Austin. Despite having similar times of possession, first downs, third down efficiency and total yards, the game never felt truly competitive as the Longhorns scored on their first four drives. That was until a near miraculous fourth quarter comeback brought the Commodores within three points, just an onside kick away from completing their comeback.
Auburn (4-5, 1-5 SEC) comes to Nashville with new interim head coach DJ Durkin. Auburn’s season began on a positive note, as it won three straight against nonconference opponents. That was followed by four consecutive close losses against strong conference opponents, including a double overtime 23-17 loss to then-No. 16 Missouri. The Tigers rebounded by grabbing their first conference win of the year against Arkansas before falling to Kentucky, 10-3. Starting quarterback Jackson Arnold was benched for Stanford transfer Ashton Daniels, who completed 13-of-28 passes for 108 yards and an interception. Following the game, head coach Hugh Freeze was fired.
Auburn will not be an easy rebound for the Commodores, despite its record and recent coaching change. The Tigers have only lost one game by more than one score this season, and that was a 20-10 loss to Georgia — arguably one of the most controversially called games this season. The clash marks the beginning of a new chapter for Auburn, and a win in Nashville would be a thrilling start for the post-Freeze era. For Vanderbilt, a loss almost surely means elimination from the College Football Playoff, making this match the first in what could be the Commodores’ most important three-game stretch in the program’s recent history. Here are three matchups to follow this weekend.
Diego Pavia’s mobility vs. Xavier Atkins
One of quarterback Diego Pavia’s distinct strengths is his ability to keep plays alive with his legs after they collapse. He leads the ‘Dores in rushing yards this season, having recorded 99 carries for 501 yards and 6 touchdowns. Defenses are forced to account for the possibility that Pavia isn’t just going to step up and throw; they have to account for designed runs up the middle or off the edge if he doesn’t have passing options downfield.
Auburn’s solution for Pavia will be sophomore linebacker Xavier Atkins. He has excelled not just in the context of Auburn’s defense but in the entire conference. Atkins has recorded 69 tackles, 7 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and an interception so far this season. He is tied for first in the SEC in tackles and tackles for loss. One of his best performances was in the Tigers’ 33-24 win against Arkansas. Like Pavia, Arkansas senior quarterback Taylen Green is a dual threat, but was constantly under Atkins’ pressure. Atkins sacked Green on third-and-eight at Auburn’s 29, forcing a punt. Throughout the rest of the game, Auburn’s defense prevented Green from getting any big yardage with his feet — he ended up with only 14 yards on 7 attempts.
For Auburn to down the Commodores, its defense will need to deliver another great performance. Containing Pavia will depend heavily on Atkins’ ability to neutralize his impact on the ground. In turn, Vanderbilt’s offensive line will need to rebound from last week’s performance by containing Atkins and the rest of Auburn’s pass protection to give their signal-caller the time he needs to get the Commodore offense rolling.
Vanderbilt’s defensive front vs. Jeremiah Cobb’s versatility
Defensive coordinator Steve Gregory’s defense will aim to recapture the level of play it displayed against Missouri two weeks ago. The Commodore run-stopping unit has been essential to Gregory’s defense, as they rank No. 20 in college football with an average of 108.4 rushing yards allowed per game. This defense has averaged 6.75 tackles for loss per game this season and has majorly contributed to the Commodores’ tight, low-scoring victory against Missouri. Vanderbilt’s run defense was one of its few bright spots in Texas, limiting the Longhorns to 100 total rushing yards and just 3.7 yards per carry. These front seven hope to deliver another strong performance against Auburn, especially if they want to contain standout Tiger running back Jeremiah Cobb.
Cobb has been a steady presence in Auburn’s offense despite multiple quarterbacks taking snaps alongside him. In last week’s Hustler power rankings, the running back room was named to be Auburn’s best position group, primarily due to Cobb’s productive season. The 5’11 junior has shone, ranking No. 4 in the SEC in rushing yards (789). He averages 5.8 yards per carry and will look to make things difficult for Vanderbilt’s defensive line.
Vanderbilt’s defense held Missouri star running back Ahmad Hardy to 97 yards on 20 carries and looks for an even better outing against Cobb. Auburn will likely attempt to establish the run early on, so it is crucial for the Commodore defensive front to be ready from the opening snap.
Emerging Clark Lea vs. DJ Durkin’s debut
Clark Lea’s first three seasons as Vanderbilt’s head coach yielded just two SEC victories. This weekend, he’ll look to notch his fifth conference victory just this season. Lea has been a driving force in Vanderbilt’s success over the last two years and has clearly earned the trust of his locker room. He continues to lean on a culture-driven approach and is widely perceived as one of college football’s most promising young coaches.
Lea now matches up against Auburn defensive coordinator and newly promoted interim head coach Durkin. Durkin has been around the college football coaching circuit for quite some time, as he served as the interim head coach at Florida before being hired as the defensive coordinator for Michigan. Durkin was also hired as a head coach by Maryland in 2015 but was dismissed in 2018 following the death of a player and reports of a toxic culture. After spending some time at Ole Miss and Texas A&M, Durkin will look to draw from his experience at various programs to deliver winning results at Auburn.
Durkin begins his tenure as Auburn’s interim head coach with a contest against Lea’s Commodores, who are averaging 37.6 points per game this season. After scoring just three points against Kentucky, the then-last-place team in the SEC, the defensive-minded Durkin aims to limit Pavia and the Commodores’ offensive scoring opportunities. Lea will look to ensure his team is prepared, especially considering how teams often carry a new motivation and elevate their performance after the immediate firing of their head coach. In turn, Auburn has nothing to lose and everything to prove — Durkin could improve his head coach candidacy by handing the ‘Dores their first loss at home.
No. 15 Vanderbilt will host Auburn on Nov. 8 at 3 p.m. CST, looking to defeat its third set of Tigers this season.
