Take Five Breakdown: SEC Road Showdown

Please Read: Welcome to the new-look Inside the Gators

• Florida Football Preseason Superlatives
• Former Florida Football Player Roundtable I
• Post-Fall Camp Ranking of Florida position-by-position

The Florida Gators (2-0) open up Week Three of the 2026 football season with SEC play. For their first game in the conference schedule, they head on the road to face the Auburn Tigers (1-1). The Gators stayed put at No. 27 in the AP Poll with 83 votes. Saturday’s game will be a true test of where Florida is and how they match up against other SEC opponents. To learn more about who the Gators face for their first SEC outing, Inside the Gators spoke with Micah Farmer, Auburn Football beat writer and analyst for Eagle Eye TV and WEGL 91.1 FM.

Five Auburn Tigers To Know

Xavier Akins, Linebacker, Junior

• As I said earlier, the linebacker room is probably the Tigers’ best unit and biggest strength. And Akins is the best in that unit, making him one of (if not the best) players on the team. So far, he’s had nine total tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack. In 2025, he was a Second Team All-American, 2025 First Team All-SEC, SEC Most Valuable Lineman, and SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 27, 2025. Gator Nation will probably hear his name on Saturday night.

Byrum Brown, Quarterback, Senior

• Another player you will probably hear a lot about this weekend is Byrum Brown. He was previously at the University of South Florida, but moved over this off-season with Head Coach Alex Golesh. There has been some good and bad for Byrum; he threw three interceptions against Baylor, but Golesh thought only one was actually on Brown. He made some improvements against Southern Mississippi, passing for 226 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Brown is not a very elusive quarterback when escaping the pocket. Instead, he runs straight back through the middle of the pocket as it collapses from the outside. So, if Florida’s interior defense puts a lot of pressure around the pocket, they should find a lot of success.

Elijah Melendez, Linebacker, Senior

• Melendez is a super-athletic, rangy guy and one of the best players on this team as a linebacker. He leads the team with 18 tackles, half being solo and the other half assisted. He’s also tallied three tackles for loss, one sack, and a pass breakup. In 2025, he was named to On3’s Midseason True Freshman All-American Team, SEC All-Freshman Team, and First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll.

Eric Winters, Safety, Sophomore

• Eric Winters is the safety expected to be in the box specifically to stall Jadan Baugh and the Gators’ ground attack. And he is one of the best secondaries to put there. So far this season, Winters has racked up 14 total tackles, 12 of them being solo, and two of them being tackles for loss. He also forced one fumble against Baylor.

Keshaun Singleton, Wide Receiver, Junior

• Singleton is one of the offensive players who transferred in from USF, along with Byrum Brown and Coach Golesh. He has been a strong piece on offense so far, and with his connection with Brown from USF, he will be a playmaker to watch on Saturday. In the past two games, he has recorded 131 receiving yards, averaging 13 yards per carry. He has yet to score this season, but will be looking to do so against Florida.

Five Ways the Gators Can Find Success

Exposing Auburn’s Greatest Weakness

• The Tigers’ linebacker core is the best unit on their team, and they are going to do everything in their power to slow down Jadan Baugh. However, by forcing Florida Quarterback Aaron Philo to throw, Auburn exposes what is probably their biggest defensive weakness: covering the top. When Auburn and Baylor faced off in week one, Baylor ran a deep post play about seven or eight times with Jaden Porter against the Tigers. And almost every time, Porter was wide on it pretty much every time over the top. So, he was open on it pretty much every time over the top. Philo has shown he can read the field quickly and connect well, so if Florida’s receivers can get out quickly, Auburn is going to have a hard time stopping the Gators.

Stopping the Pass Rush

• The Tigers have secondary Andre Jordan Jr., who is a solid cover player. He has five total tackles, two pass breakups, and two interceptions on the season. Outside of him, Auburn does not have a lot of sticky guys who can hang onto receivers well. The Tigers are going to put a lot of pressure on Florida’s interior line, but if they can stop Auburn from getting Philo quickly, Auburn might not be able to hang.

Limiting Auburn’s Ground Attack

• Auburn’s interior offensive line has not been the strongest the past two weeks, rushing for a total of 473 yards and allowing five sacks against Baylor. On the flip side, Florida’s interior defense has been solid with Brendan Bett and Jeramiah McCloud. If the Gators’ interior defense can avoid crumbling, it will be very difficult for the Tigers to run the ball up the middle. It is going to be a true test of who can run the ball best.

Distribute the Ball Well

• As I said earlier, Auburn is going to try to limit Florida on the ground, especially with Jadan Baugh. Baugh is the type of player who, as soon as he breaks free, his explosiveness and shiftiness can get him to the endzone. Auburn knows that, so they will probably keep safety Eric Winters in the box at all times. Florida will need another running back out there to rely on Baugh less and give Philo another option to distribute, in addition to his receivers.

Wreak Havoc Inside

• Florida’s interior line has been a little inconsistent, but Auburn’s defensive interior might be even more so. The Tigers have struggled with the pure pass rush, especially with De’Shawn Womack injured (he will be back on Saturday, though). If Florida can push the pocket and collapse Auburn’s interior, it will make it very difficult for Auburn to move the ball. Auburn Quarterback Byrum Brown also does not expand out of the pocket well, usually running straight back through the middle. With a weak interior, you can’t really afford to do that, so if the Gators can capitalize on the Tigers’ weakness here, they will be able to wear their opponent’s interior defense down.

Five Fast Facts

• Both Head Coaches are in their first seasons with their respective programs, after coaching at G5/G6 schools.
• Auburn is the closest SEC school to Florida, geographically.
• Florida and Auburn face off for the first time since 2019, when the Gators beat the Tigers in the Swamp.
• Auburn Head Coach Alex Golesh, Quarterback Byrum Brown, and some of the Tigers’ offense were part of the USF team that beat Florida in the Swamp last season (18-16).
• The Gators are looking for their first win in Auburn since 1999.

Score Prediction

• Ross: 18-16 UF
• Farmer: 24-20 UF

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