Vanderbilt Commodores at Auburn Tigers

Injuries noted

Vanderbilt Commodores: Jaylin Lackey (out) — The initial SEC availability report listed the cornerback out; Clark Lea said Lackey was week-to-week with a soft-tissue injury.; Jamison Curtis (out) — The initial SEC availability report listed the linebacker out; Clark Lea said Curtis was week-to-week with a soft-tissue injury.; Aaron Bryant (out for season) — The initial SEC report listed the defensive lineman out for Auburn, and Lea previously announced that a torn ACL would end his season.; Nikhil Jefferson (out) — The initial SEC availability report listed the defensive lineman out; no condition was disclosed in the retrieved report.; Cole Spence (questionable) — The initial SEC report listed the projected starting tight end questionable. Lea described him as day-to-day after he missed Vanderbilt's first three games.; Brian Allen Jr. (probable) — The initial SEC availability report listed the edge defender probable.

Auburn Tigers: Tai Buster (out) — The initial SEC availability reporting ruled the offensive lineman out; he has been dealing with a foot injury and has not played this season.; Jack Leyrer (questionable) — The initial SEC availability reporting listed the left guard as questionable.; Hunter Herring (questionable) — The initial SEC availability reporting listed the tight end as questionable after he missed the Florida game.

QUARTERBACK

• Jared Curtis is VAN's projected starter

  8.42 Y/A

  Jared Curtis is VAN's projected starting quarterback. Current-week official reporting describes the Auburn trip as Curtis' first road game after his first career start against NC State. It does not contain an explicit same-week start announcement, so he is projected rather than confirmed. 2026 line: 547 passing yards, 63.1% completions, 8.42 yards per attempt, 4-2 TD-INT over 3 games.

• Byrum Brown is AUB's projected starter

  7.68 Y/A

  Byrum Brown is AUB's projected starting quarterback. A Sept. 24 Vanderbilt-game preview identifies Brown as Auburn's quarterback and discusses his expected role Saturday; Auburn also designated him QB1 on Sept. 18. No same-week source explicitly announced the starter, so he is projected rather than confirmed. 2026 line: 753 passing yards, 64.3% completions, 7.68 yards per attempt, 5-4 TD-INT over 3 games.

TRENCHES

• AUB: 191.7 rushing yards per game to VAN's 139.7

  52 YPG

  Auburn is running for 191.7 yards a game through three games, Vanderbilt for 139.7. Last season they were nearly even, 176.8 for Auburn and 175.5 for Vanderbilt, so Vanderbilt's dip is the change to watch. Three games is a small sample, and Vanderbilt's full season says the run game is better than this. Auburn at home is more likely to control the ground game.

MISMATCH

• AUB: 191.7 rush yards a game to VAN's 139.7

  191.7 VS 139.7

  Auburn is running for 191.7 yards a game through 3 games, up a bit from 176.8 last season. Vanderbilt is at 139.7 after 175.5 last year. Auburn's number sits close to its track record, while Vanderbilt's dip over 3 games may be the one that moves back up. Auburn's ground game at home looks steady, and Vanderbilt's run game is the bigger unknown.

REPLACEMENT

• Aaron Bryant (DL) is out for the season for VAN

  OUT FOR SEASON

  The initial SEC report listed the defensive lineman out for Auburn, and Lea previously announced that a torn ACL would end his season. Vanderbilt Football Initial Injury Report Ahead of Trip to Auburn (2026-09-24)

• Tai Buster (OL) is out for AUB

  OUT

  The initial SEC availability reporting ruled the offensive lineman out; he has been dealing with a foot injury and has not played this season. Auburn faces left-guard decision with Jack Leyrer questionable (2026-09-24)

• Nikhil Jefferson (DL) is out for VAN

  OUT

  The initial SEC availability report listed the defensive lineman out; no condition was disclosed in the retrieved report. Vanderbilt Football Initial Injury Report Ahead of Trip to Auburn (2026-09-24)

• Jamison Curtis (LB) is out for VAN

  OUT

  The initial SEC availability report listed the linebacker out; Clark Lea said Curtis was week-to-week with a soft-tissue injury. Vanderbilt Football Initial Injury Report Ahead of Trip to Auburn (2026-09-24)

• Jaylin Lackey (CB) is out for VAN

  OUT

  The initial SEC availability report listed the cornerback out; Clark Lea said Lackey was week-to-week with a soft-tissue injury. Vanderbilt Football Initial Injury Report Ahead of Trip to Auburn (2026-09-24)

SITUATIONAL

• AUB: 51.1% third-down conversion rate to VAN's 35.9%

  15.2 PP

  Auburn is converting better than half its third downs through three games, well above its 39.2% last season, so expect some cooling. Vanderbilt flipped the other way: 35.9% now after 51.1% last season, which looks more like a three-game dip than a new identity. The gap in this matchup is probably narrower than it looks, so be careful building a view on Auburn sustaining drives at will.

• AUB: 25.7 first downs per game to VAN's 19

  6.7 FD

  Auburn is picking up 25.7 first downs a game through three games after 20.8 last season, while Vanderbilt fell to 19 from 24. Both swings run against last season's numbers, so three games of schedule are doing a lot of work. Expect this gap to narrow, and don't assume Auburn will move the chains at home as easily as its early numbers suggest.