The Auburn Tigers have had a bit of a roller coaster start to the season in the first year of the Alex Golesh era – barely beating Baylor in week one before a domination at the hands of Florida and having to survive against Vanderbilt.

Despite things not quite getting off to the ripping start fans were hoping for, the Tigers are 3-1 with the chance for the program’s biggest victory in years this weekend. Auburn is hitting the road to take on a downtrodden Tennessee Volunteers team in Knoxville, who despite preseason expectations, have struggled on offense with true freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon.

Game 5 • Showdown on Rocky Top 🦅 pic.twitter.com/xi6KIKUVND

— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) September 30, 2026

Golesh, who was once the offensive coordinator at Tennessee under head coach Josh Heupel, will attempt to take advantage of a weak Volunteers offensive line.

Offensively, it was not the cleanest performance for the Tigers against the Commodores last week, but Byrum Brown did seem to take a step forward in the passing game.

Byrum Brown's biggest play yet in an Auburn uniform: pic.twitter.com/tvRAqKNEz8

— Michael Brauner (@MBraunerWNSP) September 26, 2026

The Volunteers are favored by less than a touchdown, but in a matchup of offenses which have not lit the world on fire, it could be defense which decides the day in Knoxville, a battle Auburn has a real chance to come away with a victory in.

It should be a tremendous matchup, and one which a Tigers victory would send a clear statement to the rest of the SEC that Golesh is here to turn things around on The Plains – and that it won’t take very long for him to do it.