The Auburn Tigers sit at 4–6 heading into their Week 13 showdown with the 9–1 Mercer Bears, but despite the rough season, the matchup brings some excitement. In a video shared by senior staff writer Jeff Shearer, interim head coach DJ Durkin announced that quarterback Deuce Knight will make his first college start.
Knight has seen the field only once this year, completing two passes for 20 yards with no touchdowns, and adding 16 rushing yards on four attempts.
Expectations remain high for the true freshman, as Rivals Industry Rankings list him as a five-star prospect and the No. 5 quarterback in the 2025 class.
It’s a major moment for Knight, who now has a chance to elevate both his game and his brand as NIL continues to grow in influence.
His week has already been eventful — he revealed a new NIL partnership with Alliance RV and Bama RV, thanking both companies for supporting him and his family on game weekends in an Instagram post.
As a freshman, Knight carries an estimated NIL value of $776,000 per On3, ranking 51st among college quarterbacks and second on Auburn’s roster behind wideout Cam Coleman ($1.9 million).
Auburn can still reach bowl eligibility with two games left, though the path is tough with No. 10 Alabama looming in Week 14.
Knight, however, has a strong opportunity to build momentum against Mercer. ESPN’s matchup predictor puts Auburn’s chances of winning at 94.6%.
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. ET on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium, with coverage on SEC Network+.