Auburn Football Score Live: Real-Time Updates, Highlights & Analysis of Today's Tigers Showdown

AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn fans hungry for a momentum-shifting victory under interim coach DJ Durkin got promising early news out of Nashville on Saturday. The Tigers jumped on No. 16 Vanderbilt with an authoritative opening drive and carried a 7-3 edge into the second quarter, setting the tone for a game that could rescue a season hanging at 4-5. How it happened • Drive No. 1 perfection: Quarterback Ashton Daniels went 5-for-6 for 81 yards, capping a 65-yard march with a 14-yard scoring strike to freshman burner Eric Singleton Jr. • Defensive stand: After Vanderbilt threatened from the Tigers’ six, Auburn’s front stuffed dual-threat star Diego Pavia twice, forcing a 23-yard field goal that preserved the lead early in Q2. • Chippy start: Tempers flared during the coin toss, resulting in offsetting unsportsmanlike flags—an intensity Durkin welcomed from a unit ranked top-20 nationally in scoring defense. Why it matters 1. Bowl hopes alive: Sitting 4-5 (1-5 SEC), Auburn must win two of its final three to reach postseason play, and a road upset of a ranked Commodore squad would flip that math in the Tigers’ favor. 2. Audition for Durkin: Athletics director John Cohen begins his third coaching search in five years; an inspired defensive showing could turn Durkin from stopgap to candidate. 3. Daniels’ development: The Stanford transfer’s command on the opening drive displayed a level of rhythm Auburn’s offense has lacked since early September. Key numbers through Q1 • Total yards: Auburn 99, Vanderbilt 69 • Third-down efficiency: Auburn 3-for-4, Vanderbilt 1-for-3 • Penalties: Both teams 1-for-15 (coin-toss offsets) What to watch the rest of the way • Ground game grind: The Tigers managed just 18 rushing yards on that first possession. Forcing consistency on the ground against Vanderbilt’s top-10 rush defense will decide late-game clock control. • Pavia’s legs: Auburn limited the Commodore quarterback to a season-low rushing total last year. Replicating that containment is critical once adjustments kick in. • Special-teams edge: First-half field position has tilted Auburn’s way; punter Oscar Chapman’s Australian-style drops continue to pin opponents deep. Season outlook After today, Mercer visits Jordan-Hare before the Iron Bowl showdown with No. 4 Alabama. An upset in Music City would send Auburn home needing only one more win to punch a bowl ticket—an enormous carrot for a roster that rallied after Hugh Freeze’s dismissal. Live score tracker Bookmark this page for rolling updates on the Auburn football score, highlights and analysis as the Tigers pursue a signature SEC win on the road.