Auburn prepares to host Southern Miss for first home game of season

Auburn returns to Jordan-Hare Stadium this weekend to face Southern Miss for the team's first home game of the 2026 season. The Tigers enter the contest following a 17-16 win over Baylor in their season opener. Staff members from Auburn Wire noted that while head coach Alex Golesh expressed dissatisfaction with certain aspects of the team's performance against Baylor, the victory showcased mental toughness in a close-game scenario. The focus for this week’s preparation centers on correcting execution errors and establishing a more consistent run game. Defensive players Xavier Atkins and Elijah Melendez remain central to the game plan as Auburn looks to contain a Southern Miss offense that rushed for 317 yards in its previous outing. This matchup serves as the first home test for Golesh, who took over the program following the 2026 Iron Bowl.

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