In his first game as Auburn’s interim head coach, D.J. Durkin guided the Tigers to a narrow overtime loss against Vanderbilt. Though the result showed signs of progress, Durkin made it clear he isn’t content with moral victories.
The former defensive coordinator acknowledged that Auburn fans expect more than close finishes, emphasizing that the program’s goals remain much higher.
“This is Auburn — we didn’t come here just to make the game close or fight to the end,” Durkin said after the game. “We came here to win championships, and that’s what we’re building toward. There’s a lot of character in that locker room. Every coach in the country is trying to pull these players into the portal, but they’ve stuck together.”
He continued, “No moral victories. We’re not happy about it, but we’re going to start winning these games. It takes steps, and this was one of them. Our guys competed for one another and fought to the end — the other team just made a few more plays. Credit to them.”
Saturday’s matchup marked Durkin’s first game as a head coach since his departure from Maryland in 2018. His career record now stands at 11–16, including his two interim tenures.