No. 11 Auburn Outlasts Mississippi State in Back-and-Forth Opener

In a thrilling opener that featured momentum swings, big plays, and clutch performances, the No. 11 Auburn Tigers outlasted the Mississippi State Bulldogs, winning 38-31 in a game that lived up to the hype. The two SEC rivals traded blows in an exhilarating matchup that set the tone for what promises to be a dramatic season.

Auburn entered the contest with high expectations. Ranked 11th nationally and returning several key players, the Tigers were seen as a dark horse contender for the College Football Playoff. However, Mississippi State, with a new-look offense and a chip on its shoulder after a disappointing previous season, showed early on they were ready to spoil Auburn’s plans.

A First Half Full of Surprises

The game started at a blistering pace. On their opening drive, Auburn showcased their offensive versatility, mixing powerful runs with short, precise passes. Quarterback Jayson McClellan, in his first year as the full-time starter, looked poised and in control. He marched the Tigers 75 yards downfield, capping the drive with a 14-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Malik Roberts.

Mississippi State responded quickly. Quarterback Dylan Carter orchestrated a masterful drive of his own, highlighted by a 45-yard bomb to sophomore sensation Marcus Lee. The Bulldogs’ offensive line, considered a potential weakness heading into the season, held firm against Auburn’s vaunted defensive front, giving Carter the time he needed to find his targets. Mississippi State tied the game with a 7-yard touchdown run from senior running back Tyson Rowe.

The first quarter ended knotted at 7-7, and the fireworks were just getting started.

In the second quarter, Auburn’s defense appeared to tighten up. A timely interception by cornerback Elijah Daniels set up a short field for the Tigers, and McClellan wasted no time, tossing a 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end Hunter Givens. Auburn led 14-7, but once again, Mississippi State punched back. A methodical, 12-play, 78-yard drive culminated in a touchdown pass from Carter to Lee, their second connection of the night.

With the score tied at 14 late in the second quarter, Auburn turned to its run game. Junior running back Damien Wright broke free for a 62-yard touchdown scamper, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. Auburn looked poised to take a 21-14 lead into halftime, but a costly fumble by Wright on the next possession allowed Mississippi State to tack on a field goal just before the break, cutting the lead to 21-17.

Second Half: A True Battle of Wills

The second half began with an immediate spark from Mississippi State. On the first play from scrimmage, Rowe took a handoff, found a seam, and raced 68 yards to the end zone. Mississippi State took its first lead of the game, 24-21, stunning the Auburn faithful.

Auburn answered with a long, grinding drive, mixing in short passes and tough runs. McClellan’s ability to convert on multiple third downs kept the drive alive, and Wright redeemed himself with a bruising 5-yard touchdown run. Auburn reclaimed the lead, 28-24.

From that point, the two teams traded blows in heavyweight fashion. Mississippi State refused to back down, and Carter continued to find Lee and senior wideout Anthony Parker in critical moments. A clutch 4th-and-6 conversion led to another Bulldogs touchdown, putting them ahead 31-28 with just over eight minutes remaining.

The pressure was now squarely on Auburn. Facing a hostile crowd and a surging opponent, the Tigers showed their mettle. McClellan orchestrated a brilliant, clock-consuming drive, highlighted by a spectacular 34-yard scramble on 3rd-and-10 that brought the crowd to its feet. Two plays later, he connected with Roberts again for a go-ahead touchdown.

Leading 35-31, Auburn’s defense needed to make one more stand. Mississippi State drove to midfield but stalled. On 4th-and-8, Auburn linebacker Caleb Hartman broke through the line and sacked Carter, giving the ball back to the Tigers. Auburn added a late field goal to extend the lead to 38-31, and the defense sealed the win with an interception by safety Chris Barnes in the final minute.

Star Performances

Jayson McClellan finished the night completing 26 of 37 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns, adding 58 rushing yards. His poise under pressure and ability to make plays with his legs proved crucial.

Damien Wright bounced back from his early fumble to finish with 124 rushing yards and two touchdowns, providing the balance Auburn’s offense needed.

For Mississippi State, Dylan Carter turned heads with a gutsy performance. He threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 52 yards. Marcus Lee was nearly unstoppable, hauling in nine catches for 142 yards and a touchdown.

Despite the loss, Bulldogs head coach Tim Robinson praised his team’s effort.

“I’m proud of our guys,” Robinson said postgame. “We fought. We went toe-to-toe with a top-15 team on their turf. We’re going to learn from this and keep getting better.”

Key Moments

• Elijah Daniels’ Interception: The Auburn cornerback’s first-half pick shifted momentum and led directly to a Tigers touchdown.
• Damien Wright’s Redemption: After his fumble, Wright’s dominant second-half running kept Auburn’s offense moving.
• McClellan’s 34-Yard Scramble: Facing third-and-long late in the fourth quarter, McClellan’s gutsy run kept the game-winning drive alive.
• Caleb Hartman’s Sack: Mississippi State was driving for a potential tying score when Hartman’s sack ended the Bulldogs’ final serious threat.

Looking Ahead

Auburn moves to 1-0 and will host in-state rival Samford next week, a game in which they’ll be heavy favorites. Head coach Bryan Harsin emphasized the importance of cleaning up some of the mistakes that nearly cost the Tigers the game.

“We did a lot of good things tonight, but there’s a lot to fix,” Harsin said. “Proud of how we finished. That’s what matters most. But we can’t be putting ourselves in those spots every week.”

Mississippi State, meanwhile, will look to rebound as they host Louisiana Tech. Despite the loss, the Bulldogs showed enough grit and talent to suggest they could be a tough out in the SEC West this season.

Opening games often tell us a lot about a team’s identity, and if this game was any indication, Auburn is a team with heart, resilience, and star power. Mississippi State showed they are far from a pushover and could wreak havoc for more than a few SEC foes this year.

In a league where every win matters, Auburn survived a major scare. For fans, players, and coaches alike, the feeling is relief mixed with excitement: this team has plenty of potential — but also plenty of work to do.

As the lights dimmed on Jordan-Hare Stadium, one thing was clear: SEC football is back, and it’s going to be a wild ride.