The annual Tiger battle comes to an end on Saturday.
The Auburn vs. LSU football series began in 1901 and has been played every season since 1992. The rivalry has produced plenty of legendary moments from the “The Earthquake Game” in 1988 to “The Night the Barn Burned” in 1996 and “The Field Goal Game” in 2005, when the two Tigers meet it usually produces drama.
Due to the Southeastern Conference’s new scheduling format starting in 2024, Saturday’s game marks the end of a 32-year streak (1992-2023) between the rivals.
Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. Saturday and you can listen to all the action live on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette and 104.1 Lake Charles.
NABERS ON RECORD PACE
LSU’s wide receiver Malik Nabers is on a record pace. The Former Comeaux-Southside High star Malik Nabers is on a record pace. He enters Saturday’s game ranking No. 2 in the nation in receiving yards (771), and No. 5 in receptions (46) and has caught a pass in 24 consecutive games and is riding a streak of four straight 100-yard games, which is the third-longest streak in program history. Nabers is also on pace to break the single-season record for receiving yards. Ja’Marr Chase set the record with 1,780 yards in 15 games during the 2019 season. Josh Reed is second on the list with 1,740 yards in 12 games. If Nabers averages 128.5 yards per game in the final six regular season games, as well as the SEC Championship Game and a bowl game, he would end the year with a new record of 1,799 yards.
THESE TIGERS RUN
Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze is known for producing high-powered offenses and usually does so with dynamic quarterbacks. Yet, his first season on The Plains has seen the former Liberty and Ole Miss head coach lean on the running game. Auburn enters Saturday’s game averaging a healthy 4.8 yards per carry and 202 yards per game. The Tigers on the season have more rushing yards (1,010) than they do passing yards (781). Auburn is also doing it without a feature back with five different players with at least 131 yards. Even though Auburn will try to limit possessions and control the clock, this is still a matchup that favors LSU. The purple and gold Tigers have struggled with its passing defense but against a run-heavy team that won’t be an issue on Saturday in Tiger Stadium.
RARELY A BLOWOUT
During the rivalry’s previous 31 games, the matchup between the Tigers and the Tigers-Plainsmen-War Eagle has been relatively close. How close? The outcome has been decided by a touchdown or less 17 times, including last year’s game at Jordan-Hare Stadium in which LSU rallied from a 17-0 first-half deficit to win 21-17. Even during LSU’s historic 2019 national championship season, the Tigers’ biggest threat to upsetting their season came against Auburn in a 23-20 win in Baton Rouge when both teams were ranked in the Top 10.
SERIES RECORD: LSU leads 32-24-1
Last Five:
2022: LSU 21 – AUBURN 17
2021: AUBURN 24 – LSU 19
2020: AUBURN 48 – LSU 11
2019: LSU 23 – AUBURN 20
2018: LSU 22 – AUBURN 21
STAT LEADERS
LSU
Jayden Daniels: 132-of-181, 1,969 yards, 19 TD, 2 INT
Logan Diggs: 75 carries, 488 yards, 4 TD
Malik Nabers: 46 receptions, 771 yards, 6 TD
Major Burns: 42 tackles (17 solo), 1 sack, 1 INT
Damian Ramos: 7-for-9, Long of 48
Auburn
Payton Thorne: 59-of-94, 643 yards, 4 TD, 4 INT
Jarquez Hunter: 50 carries, 202 yards, 2 TD
Jay Fair: 18 receptions, 196 yards, 2 TD
Eugene Asante: 35 tackles (24 solo), 4 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 QBH
Alex McPherson: 5-of-5, Long of 53