AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit Saturday to defeat Arkansas 26-23 at Jordan-Hare Stadium on a game-winning 43-yard field goal by Alex McPherson with 33 seconds remaining. The Tigers improved to 5-4 overall and 3-4 in SEC play, scoring 23 points in the second half to secure their fifth victory of the season.
Auburn struggled to find its rhythm offensively in the first half, managing just one first down over five consecutive drives. Arkansas capitalized, opening the scoring with a 38-yard field goal before running back Braylen Russell added a 2-yard touchdown run to give the Razorbacks a 10-0 lead in the second quarter.
The Tigers finally responded just before halftime when quarterback Byrum Brown connected with Christian Neptune for a 16-yard completion, setting up McPherson for a 33-yard field goal with three seconds remaining. Auburn entered the locker room trailing 10-3.
Despite the offensive struggles, Auburn’s defense kept the Tigers within reach. Freshman linebacker Shadarius Toodle made an immediate impact in his collegiate debut, recording 11 tackles, three sacks, and 4.5 tackles for loss.
Defensive back AnQuon Fegans also intercepted Arkansas quarterback KJ Jackson, marking his third interception in four games.
Auburn head coach Alex Golesh credited younger players with stepping into larger roles, especially with several defensive players dealing with injuries.
“To see some young guys step up and for a handful of guys to step up in a big way,” Golesh said. “I think that’s how you build a football program, is that you build depth through young guys.”
Auburn found its offensive momentum in the third quarter. With 5:01 remaining, Brown connected with wide receiver Chas Nimrod for a 15-yard touchdown, cutting Arkansas’ lead to 10-9 after a missed extra point. The Razorbacks answered with a 37-yard field goal, extending their lead to 13-9.
Brown capped a 12-play, 75-yard drive with a 5-yard rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter, giving Auburn its first lead of the afternoon at 16-13.
Arkansas answered with a 46-yard field goal to tie the game 16-16. After Auburn's next possession ended in a three-and-out, Arkansas muffed Auburn's ensuing punt but recovered the ball at its own 13-yard line. Michael Matthews-Canty and Darrion Smith recorded consecutive sacks, forcing Arkansas to punt.
Brown then sparked Auburn’s next scoring drive with a 39-yard run before connecting with Keshaun Singleton for a 28-yard touchdown pass on third-and-12. The score gave Auburn a 23-16 advantage with 3:56 remaining.
Arkansas refused to go away, putting together a late scoring drive that ended with a 23-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Antonio Jordan, tying the game at 23-23 with 1:54 left.
Auburn responded with a 10-play, 50-yard drive to set up McPherson for the game-winning kick. The senior kicker connected from 43 yards with 33 seconds remaining, securing the Tigers' 26-23 victory.
Golesh praised McPherson’s composure in the decisive moment, pointing to the kicker’s consistency and mental toughness throughout the season. McPherson had previously delivered a game-winning field goal against Georgia, and Golesh said he trusted him to handle the pressure.
“He’s what Auburn football is, man. Fight, perseverance, grit,” Golesh said. “That dude is as special of a human being as they come.”
Brown finished with 180 passing yards and two touchdown passes, plus 120 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown, accounting for three total touchdowns. Golesh said the team’s ability to finish close games is key to building the program, but emphasized that Auburn still has work to do offensively.
With the victory, Auburn heads into the final stretch of the regular season looking to build on its second-half performance. The Tigers will travel to Starkville next Saturday to face Mississippi State at 11 a.m. CT.
