Saturday will present another challenge to the Auburn Tigers and Head Coach Alex Golesh. They will travel to Athens, Georgia to take on the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs. Since 2024, Auburn is 1-11 against ranked teams. They lost their only opportunity, this year, to Tennessee, 24-14. Even though Auburn will enter as a substantial underdog, Golesh feels this is a unique opportunity for his team.
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“Right now this is the best team in the country and what better opportunity to play the best in the country? Ultimately they understand we're building towards getting Auburn back to that. If that's where you want to get that's who you gotta beat,” Golesh said.
There are three big storylines heading into Saturday’s game. The biggest is Auburn will be without junior All-American linebacker Xavier Atkins. This will put more pressure on sophomore Elijah Melendez to lead the defensive unit on the field. Golesh is also looking to guys like De’Marcus Riddick and Bryce Deas to step up and fill the void left by Atkins.
“We see a bunch of those guys as starters. So now for them is the role increased? Absolutely. They've got to go play the snaps and they've got to go do it at a high level and that's the expectation and the standard that's been set in that room,” Golesh said.
The Tigers need these linebackers to step up against a Georgia team that likes to run the football. In Auburn’s two losses, they gave up a combined 480 yards. Golesh feels their could be some similarities in what Georgia likes to do and what the Tigers saw against Tennessee.
“These tight end packages and they've got four guys that play almost even minutes for them. They're really good pass catchers as well but the uniqueness of being able to get into 12 and 13 personnel and creating formations that then create extra gaps,” Golesh said.
Offensively it will be imperative for Auburn to get off to quick start. We have heard, ad-nauseam, when the Tigers get that first 1st down they are able to pick up the tempo and get into a rhythm. Golesh has maintained the mantra of wanting to run the ball on early downs in an effort to set up second or third and manageable.
“I think you gotta wear them guys down they're really big up front. Linebacker group is really really good. We've gotta be able to wear them down and get it going in terms of get them kind of moving east and west and be able to get it get create creases that way,” Golesh said.
This will be the 6th meeting all-time where Georgia has boasted a #1 ranking. However, all those games took place outside of Athens. In those previous five meetings, the Bulldogs are 3-2. While much of the country is doubting the Tigers, Golesh and his coaching staff are doing their part to make the players believe they can pull off the upset.
“We talk every week, regardless of the opponent, that you build confidence as the week goes. You have to believe that you're gonna wake up and you're gonna go attack it and you've gotta have the confidence to go do it. I believe that we're about to go win that football game. I've earned the right to feel that way by what my process and my leadership throughout that week,” Golesh said.
The 131st edition of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry kicks off, on Saturday, at 2:30 p.m. central, inside Sanford Stadium.
Auburn Undercover is an independent Auburn sports media company covering Auburn athletics, recruiting and insider news.
