For the first time since 2023, LSU and Auburn will square off for a Tiger vs Tiger matchup. This rivalry was a staple on the schedule year in and year out until the SEC abolished conference divisions. What was once a key battle for SEC West supremacy has now become an occasional matchup with Auburn not being one of LSU’s permanent opponents.
It’s a shame, because this game seemed to always deliver. Both sides have had their moments, whether it be Flynn to Byrd, Cam “Superman” Newton, or Cole Tracy. Three years is too long to go without seeing these classic uniforms on the field together, so Saturday’s matchup is much welcomed.
LSU heads in to Jordan-Hare as the #18 ranked team in the country with an overall record of 5-2, while 2-2 in the SEC. Auburn sits at 4-2 overall, while also 2-2 in the conference. They somehow just missed being ranked in the top-25, despite beating the #1 ranked Georgia Bulldogs on the road last week.
That giant upset is very notable. Obviously it matters for Auburn’s resume, as they try to continue their ascent under first-year head coach, Alex Golesh, but the fallout from that emotional win could play a factor for LSU’s chances tomorrow. It’s never easy to come back down to Earth following a win as big as last week’s for Auburn. The emotion of the win spills over in to the following week of prep, no matter how hard you try to combat it.
That doesn’t guarantee that it’ll be a benefit for LSU, but it’s certainly worth questioning whether Auburn is due for a hangover or is that the start of a hot streak.
With both teams already having two losses, the loser of this game would seemingly be eliminated from playoff contention. It wouldn’t be impossible, but it would be highly unlikely to leave October with three losses and still have a reasonable chance.
LSU is a touchdown favorite, which seems high. Yes, they have the better team on paper, but Lane Kiffin’s Tigers have yet to win a road game this year. If they want to finally jump that hurdle, it’ll start with winning some key matchups.
LSU running game vs Auburn linebackers
Dilin Jones is quietly the 4th leading rusher in the SEC. Folks in Baton Rouge may not be surprised by that, but with the occasional struggles to run the ball consistently on the road, he doesn’t get talked about as much nationally. His 4.4 yards per carry is top-tier, but it’s what he’s able to do after contact that has made him so special in this Kiffin/Weis offense. He has also consistently shown the ability to make defenders miss with his footwork and is constantly creating his own success.
While he’s been hampered with his hamstring injury that has prevented him from running more, Sam Leavitt may be more willing to use his legs while on the road in a close game. We know how capable he is of being effective that way, so it will be interesting to watch just how healed he is.
On the Auburn side, they’re playing with a massive hole in the middle of their defense. Former LSU Tiger Xavier Atkins was an All-American and extremely important to DJ Durkin’s defense. I say “was” because he is no longer with the team. Earlier in the week, he was dismissed after being suspended for the Georgia game. It’s unclear why, but what matters more for this game is that his absence against LSU puts Auburn in a tough spot.
Bryce Deas will fill in for Atkins, but as a true sophomore who has only appeared in 10 games, so far, a matchup against Leavitt and Jones is a tall-task. He did show up and play well in his first start in Atkins’s place against the Bulldogs, recording the 2nd most tackles with 8.
Thankfully for Auburn, they have a guy named Elijah Menendez, who is equally important to what Durkin does with his defense. He, too, is a true sophomore, but he played in 11 games in 2025 and has a lot of early experience. Menendez leads Auburn in tackles (59), tackles for loss (9), sacks (4), and pass breakups (5). He was all over the place against Georgia and is the top guy to keep an eye out for in this one. Look out for #9 to try and disrupt everything LSU wants to do on the ground.
LSU defensive line vs Byrum Brown
Each week, we could sit here and talk about how the defense’s front four is important against the opposing quarterback. Obviously, you may say. The difference this week is that LSU is going up against a 6’3, 235 pound quarterback who looks like a linebacker and runs with the aggression of a power running back.
Despite his size and skill, he’s been sacked 23 times. Brown isn’t known as a thrower. He wants to run, so Blake Baker has his hands full. Think of the aforementioned Cam Newton or Tim Tebow. No, I’m not saying that he’s as talented as either one of those guys, especially considering that they’re two of the best college QBs of all time, but their style is what to keep in mind.
If LSU’s front can’t find a way to get to Brown and disrupt him, he’s either going to have time to find an open receiver, which any SEC starting quarterback should be able to do with time, or he’ll find his spots to take off and punish you. He ran for 115 yards in the upset win over Georgia, despite only throwing for 150. LSU can’t let him do that and that starts with the front four.
LSU secondary vs Auburn wide receivers
The frustrations for Blake Baker and his soft zone coverage have been loud this season. Whether it be for the entire first half against Ole Miss, on the final drive of regulation against Kentucky, or even randomly against Mississippi St last week. Folks have not been happy about it.
There’s merit to that frustration, too. Kiffin has acknowledged that it was his wish for the defense to defend Trinidad Chambliss like that, trying to avoid the big plays. Well, that resulted in methodical drives for the Rebel offense as their star QB took everything that the Tiger defense gave him. Same goes for Kenny Minchey, who easily drove the Wildcats down in to field goal range in Lexington.
Despite neither of those games working out, could we see more of that strategy against Byrum Brown? I believe so, but it’s not for the same purpose. Brown doesn’t give coaches a ton of reason to fear having him beat you down field. He’s not very accurate, which is evident in both of Auburn’s losses. He finished with completion percentages of 57.1% and 57.7% against Florida and Tennessee, respectively.
The difference between Chambliss/Minchey and Brown, though, is that Auburn’s signal-caller wants to run. Playing man defense against a QB that is looking to take off is a death sentence. The moment he sees defenders turn their back to him in coverage, he can take off. He’d gash the defense play after play. With a zone, Brown and everything else stays in front of each level of Baker’s defense.
If he finds holes and makes throws, you tip the cap. But, the sort of approach that has frustrated fans earlier in the season may end up being the correct one for this matchup.