KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Auburn took a 7-3 lead into halftime before No. 17 Tennessee scored 14 unanswered points in the third quarter to take control and defeat the Tigers 24-14 Saturday at Neyland Stadium.
Saturday’s game marked Auburn coach Alex Golesh’s return to Knoxville. Golesh served as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach from 2021-22 under coach Josh Heupel before spending three seasons as South Florida’s head coach.
The game also marked Auburn’s first visit to Neyland Stadium since 2013, when the Tigers defeated the Volunteers 55-23.
The return began with a slow start for both teams, with neither offense finding the end zone in the first quarter. The Tigers and Volunteers nearly traded fumbles on back-to-back plays early in the game, but neither team capitalized.
Tennessee broke the scoreless tie with a 36-yard field goal in the second quarter. Quarterback Faizon Brandon then threw an interception, giving Auburn a chance to extend its advantage. Linebacker Xavier Atkins intercepted Brandon for his first interception of the season and second of his career.
Auburn answered later in the quarter with a 7-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Byrum Brown with 3:48 remaining in the first half, taking a 7-3 lead heading into halftime.
The Volunteers came out of halftime with a different pace, scoring twice in the third quarter to take the lead. Running back DeSean Bishop scored two touchdowns in the third quarter, including a 25-yard touchdown run and, after an Auburn interception, a 44-yard touchdown run, giving Tennessee a 17-7 lead.
The Tigers fought back in the fourth quarter, cutting Tennessee’s lead to 17-14. Brown connected with tight end Arlis Boardingham for a 16-yard touchdown with 10:57 remaining, capping a 94-yard drive. However, the Volunteers answered with another touchdown and held Auburn scoreless for the rest of the game. Bishop scored his third touchdown of the game on a 5-yard run with 3:30 remaining to make it 24-14.
Brown led Auburn offensively, finishing with 107 rushing yards, marking his first 100-yard rushing game at Auburn and the 12th of his career. He also completed 22 of 33 passes for 159 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Keshaun Singleton also reached a milestone. His seven catches for 54 yards included his 100th career reception, which came in the second quarter.
Tennessee finished with 237 rushing yards, led by Bishop’s 220 yards on 34 carries. His three rushing touchdowns accounted for all of the Volunteers’ touchdowns. Auburn finished with 345 total yards, including 186 rushing yards and 159 passing yards.
Defensively, Xavier Atkins led the Tigers with 11 tackles and recorded his second career interception, while Da’Shawn Womack recorded a career-high three tackles for loss and two sacks. Womack’s two sacks came back-to-back in the first quarter.
The loss marked the first meeting between the two teams since 2020, when Auburn defeated Tennessee 30-17 in Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn is now 3-2 overall and 1-2 in SEC play. The Tigers begin a four-game stretch against teams currently ranked in the top 20 of the AP poll, starting with Georgia on Saturday, Oct. 17, at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia.
