Graphic: Opelika Daily News
Auburn finally got one at home. Byrum Brown threw for one touchdown and ran for another, Cade Carlson returned a blocked punt for a score, and the Tigers held off previously unbeaten Vanderbilt 21-15 on Saturday in front of a sold-out Homecoming crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
It was Auburn’s first SEC win at home since the four-overtime win over Texas A&M on Nov. 23, 2024, a drought of one year, 10 months and three days. It was also the first conference win for first-year coach Alex Golesh, and the Tigers’ 35th straight Homecoming win.
“It was really, really good to beat a good football team,” Golesh said. “It was really good to win in the SEC. It was really good to win at home.” He also thanked the crowd: “I promise you, as we build this thing, man, they’re going to have a lot to cheer about as we go.”
How it happened
Vanderbilt scored first on a 39-yard Brock Taylor field goal after Miles Capers intercepted Brown. Auburn answered right away with a six-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Brown’s 33-yard touchdown pass to Chas Nimrod. In the second quarter, Auburn blocked a Vanderbilt punt and Carlson picked it up and returned it 10 yards for a touchdown and a 14-3 halftime lead.
The Commodores opened the third quarter with a 14-play, 75-yard drive that took 7:53. They converted two fourth-and-1s along the way, and Sedrick Alexander scored from 3 yards out. The two-point try failed, leaving it 14-9. Auburn came right back. Brown hit Jeremiah Koger for 19 yards on third-and-7, Jeremiah Cobb ran for 21, and after a pass interference penalty Brown scored from the 2 for a 21-9 lead with 4:40 left in the third.
Taylor added two more field goals, the last a 45-yarder that cut it to 21-15 with 6:26 to play. Auburn never gave the ball back. A 20-yard completion from Brown to Camden Singleton and another 21-yard run by Cobb helped the Tigers run out the clock.
By the numbers
- Brown: 18 of 27 passing for 140 yards, one touchdown and one interception, plus 57 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.
- Total yards: Vanderbilt 311, Auburn 279. Auburn was 7 of 15 on third down, while Vanderbilt was 4 of 17.
- Defense: A week after Florida put up 44 points and 495 yards, Auburn held Vanderbilt to one touchdown.
- Vanderbilt: True freshman quarterback Jared Curtis, in his first road start, completed 22 of 33 passes for 199 yards and ran 18 times for 46 yards.
Auburn (3-1, 1-1 SEC) plays at Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Neyland Stadium. Kickoff time has not been announced. Vanderbilt falls to 3-1 and 0-1 in the SEC.
Sources: Auburn Athletics, Vanderbilt Athletics, Associated Press via CBS Sports, AL.com, Yahoo Sports
