The Tigers are rolling the dice at quarterback once again — and this time, the decision could define the rest of their season. Interim head coach DJ Durkin made it official on Wednesday: the same signal-caller who started last week will remain under center when Auburn takes on No. 16 Vanderbilt.
It’s a bold move after last weekend’s offensive meltdown in Lexington. Auburn’s passing game sputtered from the opening drive and never found rhythm, mustering just 108 yards through the air before the starting quarterback was pulled in the fourth quarter. The Tigers’ lone field goal wasn’t nearly enough in a 10–3 defeat that ultimately triggered the program’s biggest shake-up of the year — the firing of head coach Hugh Freeze.
Now, with Durkin calling the shots, Auburn is searching for stability — and maybe a spark. The decision to stick with the new starter sends a clear message: this staff believes in continuity over chaos, and that the quarterback room’s leader deserves another shot to prove himself.
Behind the scenes, the shift in leadership has given Auburn’s locker room a jolt. “I’ve really been trying to spend time with those guys on that side of the ball, just to hear from them, both players and coaches,” Durkin said. “We made a decision as a staff: he’ll be our starting quarterback.”
The move caps off a whirlwind few weeks on the Plains. After losing five of their last six, the Tigers are desperate for momentum — and this young quarterback might be the key to it. Through roughly five quarters of action, he’s shown flashes of composure and poise, completing 19 of 36 passes for 185 yards, with one touchdown and zero interceptions.
Auburn’s postseason hopes are still alive, but the margin for error is thin. Saturday’s matchup at No. 16 Vanderbilt (4 p.m. ET, SEC Network) now looms as more than just another conference game — it’s a chance for the Tigers to reclaim pride, rebuild confidence, and begin writing a new chapter in what’s been a turbulent season.