Grading Auburn football's performance in Vanderbilt win: Report card

Auburn football's performance in their win against Vanderbilt was evaluated in a grading system. The Tigers emerged victorious with a score of 21-15 on Saturday, September 26, at Jordan-Hare Stadium. This marked their first conference victory under coach Alex Golesh and their first win against a league opponent at home since 2024.

The Auburn offense received a grade of C+. While the team performed well when it counted, they still lacked the spark expected from Coach Golesh's system. The Auburn defense earned a B-. Although they secured the win, their struggles in getting off the field contributed to the outcome late in the second half. The Auburn special teams received an A grade.

Block punts for touchdowns, pinning opponents inside the 20-yard line, and Alex McPherson's 100th career point-after conversion were highlighted as standout performances. The Auburn coaching staff earned a C+. They managed to outdo Vanderbilt, but the team faced slow starts on offense and saw the Commodores adjust their game plan down the stretch.

The top performers were named Omar Mabson II and Cade Carlson. Without Mabson's performance as a running back and Carlson's contributions as a special teamer, Auburn's victory may have been different. Auburn's final grade for the game against Vanderbilt was a B-. While the win was certainly convincing, it wasn't a particularly pretty performance.

Auburn athletics beat writer Adam Cole provided this grading analysis for the Montgomery Advertiser.