The Auburn Tigers are gearing up for their final home game of the season this weekend, hosting Texas A&M under the lights at Jordan-Hare Stadium. This matchup marks Auburn’s first and only SEC night game of the season, creating high anticipation among fans. Riding the momentum of their dominant win against ULM, the Tigers hope to deliver another strong performance in front of their home crowd.
Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko shared his thoughts on the challenge of facing Auburn, particularly under the unique circumstances of a night game. While the Aggies have played earlier games at Jordan-Hare in the past, Elko acknowledges that Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. kickoff adds an entirely different layer to the experience.
“We’ve played early games over there,” Elko said, via Texas A&M Aggies on SI. “The atmosphere was great. There’s a lot of pageantry at Auburn. It’s a great place to play. It’s one of the iconic stadiums in this conference. If I remember right, I think both of the other times were noon or 11 a.m. Central kickoffs. I don’t know that that’s going to be quite what we’re walking into Saturday night.”
Elko recognizes the energy and enthusiasm that a night game in Auburn can generate, which could serve as a significant advantage for the Tigers.
On the Auburn side, head coach Hugh Freeze addressed the recent performance of quarterback Payton Thorne, who had one of his best games of the season against ULM. Despite missing valuable practice time due to a shoulder injury leading up to that game, Thorne executed a well-prepared game plan with precision and confidence.
Freeze was particularly impressed by Thorne’s connection with the receivers, specifically highlighting a touchdown pass to Malcolm Simmons. “The plan was one where he and the receivers were more in sync,” Freeze said, per *The Montgomery Advertiser*. “That touchdown to Malcolm, that was the best progression and timing for what we consider to be our combo world of the entire season. The way it happened, the timing of it—it was by far the best.”
Looking ahead to Saturday, Freeze expressed confidence in Thorne’s ability to lead the team against Texas A&M’s formidable defense. “I think he’s been really solid,” Freeze said, per *Auburn Undercover*. “He’s poised, taking what the defense gives us, taking care of the football, and getting us in the right protections. He’s completing a high percentage of his passes and managing the RPO game well.”
Freeze also acknowledged the challenge posed by Texas A&M’s defense, particularly their pass rush. “The biggest challenge against this group is giving Payton time to throw. That pocket collapses really, really fast against this group,” Freeze noted.
As Auburn prepares for its final home game and fans get ready to light up Jordan-Hare for a memorable night, all eyes will be on Payton Thorne and the Tigers as they aim to carry their recent success into a crucial SEC matchup.
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