⚡ CFB Dashboard

- Pick/market: As the saying goes, the most improvement in college football happens from Week 1 to Week 2.

- Pick/market: ATLANTA, Ga.--Nothing went as planned on Saturday in Mercedes-Benz.

- Pick/market: ATLANTA — Auburn knows it has plenty to work on, but the Tigers entered the win column all the same after a chaotic afternoon in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

- Auburn rushed for 130 net yards against Baylor; the article notes the total would exceed 160 without Byrum Brown's sack losses. Of 41 official rushing attempts, including sacks, 25 gained three yards or less. The writer identifies better interior-line push as a priority against Southern Miss, not a reported lineup or scheme change. - Auburn held Baylor to 7-of-22 on third down but allowed 4-of-6 fourth-down conversions. The preview identifies finishing defensive possessions as an area needing improvement against Southern Miss; the strong overall third-down rate did not prevent Baylor from extending drives. - The Auburn preview credits Baylor's quick passing for limiting pressure and faults Auburn's defensive backs for excessive cushion and free releases. The writer recommends tighter receiver challenges to help rushers arrive without heavy blitzing. This is film-based analysis and a recommendation, not an announced defensive adjustment. - The Auburn writer criticizes fielding a punt inside the Tigers' own five-yard line and attempting a fake punt inside the opponent's 35 against Baylor. Neither was described as decisive in that win, but the preview flags special-teams decision-making as a concern before tougher games.

- Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown threw three interceptions and took six sacks against Baylor while struggling to push the ball downfield, although he improved late and delivered the final touchdown drive. - Auburn's interior offensive line allowed substantial penetration and 81% of the team's rushing yards came after contact, contrasting with more positive tackle reviews and Stanton Ramil's reported No. 2 PFF grade among Week 1 right tackles. - Auburn receiver Keshaun Singleton showed established timing with Brown on comeback routes and repeatedly fought for extra yards, leading both reviewers to identify him as a dependable target despite the offense failing to finish several productive drives. - Auburn edge defender Da'Shawn Womack played little in the second half because of injury after a strong start, adding context to the reviewers' concern about limited pressure against Baylor's quick passing game without establishing his next-game availability. - Auburn used a reverse to Bryce Cain to exploit a Baylor defense concentrated inside against the run and set up its first touchdown, finding an offensive role for his speed after he moved between positions during camp.

- Auburn QB Byrum Brown threw three interceptions against Baylor, two on deep attempts. Alex Golesh and OC Joel Gordon accepted responsibility for not putting him in better situations on those downfield shots. The report says the staff remains confident in Brown; a cleaner Southern Miss game would still be a different test from SEC defenses. - Auburn guards Jacob Strand and Cole Skinner were injured late against Baylor, with Kail Ellis and Jack Leyrer replacing them during the go-ahead touchdown drive. Golesh called the interior line disappointing. The writer expects more guard rotation against Southern Miss, but gives no confirmed starter change or final availability ruling for Strand or Skinner. - Golesh described Auburn DEs Da'Shawn Womack and Chris Murray as day-to-day with minor injuries. The writer expects Auburn not to push their Southern Miss reps and suggests more work for Darrion Smith, especially if Joe Phillips remains sidelined after missing Week 1. Those workload and replacement expectations are not confirmed absences or assignments. - Auburn's defense played 99 snaps against Baylor; Eric Winters made the decisive tackle on his 91st, and CBs Rayshawn Pleasant and Andre Jordan Jr. each exceeded 90. The preview sees Southern Miss as an opportunity to develop reserves and reduce that burden before Florida. It does not report a set snap cap or promised substitution timetable.

- The analyst identified defensive disguises when Auburn could not play fast as a major cause of its offensive problems, making the ability to sustain tempo an important part of the offense's effectiveness. - Auburn's interior offensive line drew criticism, particularly at center, although the analyst emphasized the quality and changed personnel of Baylor's front seven as context. - The analyst raised Ellis as a possible center option, but this was speculation about an adjustment rather than a reported lineup change or injury update.

- Auburn played without two edge rushers while the defense had to handle 99 snaps, adding context to the front's late-game stress against Baylor. - Joe Phillips was already unavailable, and Jacob Strand stayed down longer than other injured players, though the postgame tone suggested the staff thought he would probably be okay. - Auburn's defensive front and overall defense still forced enough negative plays to keep the Tigers in the game despite Baylor sustaining late drives.

- Coaching: If there's one thing Auburn doesn't have early this season, as compared to so many of the program's recent teams, it's a short leash at quarterback.

- Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown threw three interceptions against Baylor, but he led the decisive fourth-quarter drive by going 4-for-4 for 49 yards and adding 13 rushing yards before an 11-yard touchdown run. - Center Cole Best said Auburn still trusts Brown fully and noted some interceptions also involved protection and communication issues that need fixing. - Alex Golesh said he blamed himself as much as Brown because Auburn tried to force the ball downfield after drives stalled between midfield and the 40. - Keshaun Singleton was Brown's top target with seven catches for 89 yards, continuing the trust from their USF connection. - Brown said the close win showed Auburn's complementary football because the defense kept providing stops until the offense could capitalize.

- OL: They don't update it after that first initial depth chart.

- Pick/market: Auburn has one starter back on offense from last season, running back Jeremiah Cobb.

- Auburn rotated a lot of defensive backs in the Baylor opener, leaving the secondary depth chart as an ongoing film-room question. - Auburn showed red-zone growth by finishing two ground-game touchdowns, a point the hosts contrasted with recent seasons when finishing drives was a concern. - The offense still struggled to sustain possessions because mistakes, sacks, and negative plays repeatedly interrupted drives.

- Auburn coach Alex Golesh identified game operation as the clearest area for improvement after the Baylor opener, saying the first live game gave his new staff evidence on reactions to play calls, audibles and timeouts that practice could not fully reproduce. - Auburn's offensive cleanup extends beyond Byrum Brown's three turnovers, as the report also identified a fumbled snap and penalties in important situations despite the 17-16 win over Baylor. - Auburn's special-teams execution remains a correction point after a missed field goal and a poorly executed fake punt against Baylor, both among the first-game errors Golesh accepted responsibility for.

- Auburn's staff maintained confidence in Byrum Brown after his three-interception opener, with the report emphasizing that one poor passing performance would not put the established starter on a short leash. - Alex Golesh said Brown passed up available checkdowns against Baylor pressure, especially in the first half, before improving to 11-of-14 passing after halftime. - Auburn coordinator Joel Gordon attributed Brown's interceptions to correctable forced throws and stressed checking down when deep shots are covered, while Golesh said Brown must improve the timing of those shots. - Golesh said Auburn's offensive plan and execution were not clean enough against Baylor, with different players making errors from play to play, although the offense began resembling its intended form in the fourth quarter.

- Auburn coaches said the offense probably forced too much once it crossed midfield, contributing to stalled drives on Baylor's side of the field. - The hosts framed Joe Clanderman's debut as defensive coordinator as a mixed first data point because Auburn survived, but Baylor still drove late and converted multiple fourth downs. - Auburn's sideline response was a positive coaching signal, with the full team huddling and staying engaged before Byron Brown led the late go-ahead touchdown drive.

- Auburn's 2026 offensive matchup includes a Southern Miss secondary listing Jyaire Brown at nickel, Champ Lewis at the opposite corner from Kobi Albert, and Landon Sylvie at field safety. The boundary-safety job retains a Laquan Robinson/Michael Robinson III OR; these are opposing personnel assignments to prepare for, not evidence about Auburn's own defense.

- Auburn's run game was inefficient against Baylor, finishing with 130 rushing yards on 41 carries while Alex Golesh said the Tigers were a little off in the box and on the perimeter. - Byrum Brown was sacked five times for 23 lost yards, which materially dragged down Auburn's rushing output and points to protection issues that still need correction. - Auburn did finish both of its red-zone touchdowns through the run game, including the decisive score from 12 personnel with Brown and two reserve offensive linemen on the field. - Center Cole Best viewed the late scoring drive as a maturity signal because reserve guards Jack Lehrer and Kail Ellis were ready when both starting guards were out.

- Auburn's offensive line was identified as a cleanup area after the Baylor win, with the hosts saying the group needs to regroup before tougher opponents. - The hosts did not expect Southern Miss to reveal much about the line, making Florida in Week 3 the bigger test for whether Auburn's offense can execute cleanly. - Auburn's late offensive response still mattered because Byron Brown led the go-ahead touchdown drive after the game flow had turned against the Tigers.

- Auburn's defense played roughly 100 snaps in its previous game according to the panel, which highlighted Eric Winters making a play on his 91st snap as evidence of the unit's conditioning under a heavy workload. - Auburn faces another potential endurance test against Southern Miss, whose offense the panel described as run-oriented with a large offensive line and tempo intended to wear down the defense.

- Auburn safety Eric Winters recorded 11 tackles and two tackles for loss against Baylor, adding a forced fumble that ended Baylor's opening possession. - Winters stopped tight end Matthew Klopfenstein short of the goal line on Baylor's late two-point attempt to preserve Auburn's 17-16 win, saying he recognized the action from the team's preparation.

- Intel: Download the week two college football TV grid with the Google drive link below: (Both PDF + PNG available)

- LB: Auburn officially broke ground on the Jordan-Hare Stadium North End Zone project that will take place over the next two years.

- LB: Tiger Walk for all home games will now be two-a-half hours before kickoff, not two.

- AUBURN, Alabama— Auburn Athletics will continue its celebration of America’s 250th anniversary this fall, with the America250 logo adorning Pat Dye Field at Jordan-Hare Stadium throughout the 2026 home football season. - Auburn was among the first college athletics programs to join the national America250 celebration when the logo debuted on Pat Dye Field during the 2025 Iron Bowl. - The game also marked the first sporting-event stop for America250’s...

- Intel: Needed that 🫸🤛 First TD as a Tiger for @byrumbrown17 📺: ABC